OA and honey supers

[honeylocust]

I've been treating my hives regularly with 2C of powdered sugar, brushed over the tops of the brood frames, but those dog gone mites are still increasing in numbers.

I think my next course of action is 3 treatmenst of OA vapor. And to do this pronto.

My hives each have 3 honey supers stacked on top which are not quite ready for extraction.

Can I vaporize OA with the honey supers on? I've read some research that has tested the honey and it shows little contamination of the honey or the wax. I could use some opinions on this. Thank you.

[ScadsOBees]

I would recommend taking them off while treating, and then leave them off for at least a couple of days before putting them back on, if you want to treat immediately.

Or wait a few weeks and treat in Sept after pulling the honey.

What indicates an overabundance of mites? What are your counts?

-rick

[Dave W]

honeylocust . . .

>I've read some research that has tested the honey and it shows little contamination of the honey or the wax . . .

OA vapors "leaves no residue" that "contaminates honey or wax" AFTER treatment is finished.


>Can I vaporize OA with the honey supers on . . .

No. NEVER risk your honey! And all "amount to use" recommendation are base on a single or double deep hive. Increasing the hive's volumn w/ honey supers would require additional UNKNOWN amount of OA to fill the additional space.

[honeylocust]

ScadsOBees - Half way through the treatment period the p.sugar had knocked down the number to 100/day. Now, even with 6 treatments of p. sugar,10 days apart, the numbers have grown to about 400/day. PMS is just starting to be noticed. This is my highest invected hive, which has actually been going gangbusters. 70# of honey so far and another 110#? almost ready.

I need to switch my treatments and I believe I need to do that quickly before it's too late. If I need to take off the supers I will. Two days or so is all that is needed for leaving the supers off?

[carbide]

For what it is worth. I've read that you could replace your supers on your hives as soon as the OA vapors have dissipated. The suggested time was 15 - 20 minutes.

Whether or not this is sufficient time I don't know. If I was in your situation, with that high of a drop count, the OA vapor treatment with the supers off is exactly what I would do. I would first remove the bees from the supers so that more of them would be exposed to the OA vapors to rid them of phoretic mites.

[Dave W]

honeylocust . . .

Remember, as you doing any treatment and sometimes for a period after treatment is complete, you will see your drop count increase. This increase indicates treatment is killing or removing mites.

Here is an example (not actual numbers):
Starting Apr 1, "natural" mite drop = 3
May 1 = 5
Jun 1 = 15
Jul 1 = 50
Jul 2, First treatment
Jul 12, 2nd treatment
Jul 22, 3rd treatment
Aug 1 = 100 (this may be "natural" or caused by treatment)
Aug 1, 4th treatment
Aug 10, 5th treatment
Aug 20, 6th treatment
Aug 20 = 400 mites on sticky board (These mites probably removed by the treatment)

Sep, No treatments

Oct 1st = 20 mites on sticky board (This would indicate treatment was effective and now your drop has returned to a "natural" fall.)

>PMS is just starting to be noticed . . .
What signs are you seeing?

[honeylocust]

Dave -

With the P. sugar treatment I would not expect the numbers to keep increasing for as long as a week later. I would expect a high number of drop within a few hours of each treatment and then I would expect the numbers to decrease for the following week. I am right about that?

The PMS symptoms are: deformed wings on mostly the drones and a small number of bees stumbling around within 15 feet from the front of the hive. Other than that and the mite drop everything else looks very healthy with the hive.

[Dave W]

>I am right . . .

Probably yes smile.gif I have no actual experience w/ PS. But, somehow a week of "clean-up" doesnt sound too long (5 days OK - 7 days, too long smile.gif )

from my personal notes:

TREATMENT – The large number of both adult bees and larvae affected by PMS certainly suggest the cause is a communicable disease. Researchers do not understand why drugs used to control brood disease or feeding sugar syrup can alleviate symptoms, but the positive effects that result from the use of ApistanR certainly suggest a strong link w/ Varroa. Much is not known about PMS, but these treatments have been effective [Ref 15, p143, http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pest-diseases/animals/varroa/guidelines/control.htm – p20, Accessed 8/1/05].
• Feed sugar syrup http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pest-diseases/animals/varroa/guidelines/control.htm – p20, Accessed 8/1/05].
• Feed antibiotic oxytetracycline http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pest-diseases/animals/varroa/guidelines/control.htm – p20, Accessed 8/1/05].
• Feed w/ TM (oxytetracycline) in syrup [Ref 15, p143].
• Feed w/ Fumagillin [Ref 15, p143].
• Treat for Varroa w/ miticide (ApistanR) strips [Ref 15, p143, http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pest-diseases/animals/varroa/guidelines/control.htm – p20, Accessed 8/1/05].
• Treat for Tracheal Mites w/ grease patties [Ref 15, p143].
• Feed pollen supplements [Ref 15, p143].
• Use resistant bee stock [Ref 15, p143