Favorite varroa treatment?

[Hutch]

With all the different methods, it can be very confusing. I want to hear from bee people out there about the methods they are using. I am limited on funds and am also looking for cost effectiveness.

[loggermike]

Checmite and Apistan strips -most economical in terms of labor savings.But may not be effective due to mite resistance.Ask around before you spend your money.
Oxalic vaporising -effective and cheap,but more labor intensive(more trips to treat).

Mineral oil -dont bother.It doesnt work(ok start throwing tomatoes)

[BULLSEYE BILL]

>(ok start throwing tomatoes)

Throw some my way too, I've got 4.75 gal. and little use for it. Oh yeah, and a fogger that won't light.

[loggermike]

The fogger and mineral oil will probably play a part in delivering other substances in varroa control.Some Canadians are experimenting using it to deliver oxalic,apparently with good results....Dont even ask!(dont be in a hurry to get rid of your fogger just yet)

[BjornBee]

loggermike,
All apiaries this year that have tested positive with high mite counts and resistance, fall into two catagories.
1) Those beekeepers who have used the SAME strip year after year.
2) Those beekeepers who treat every year with say...Apistan EVERY fall, and checkmite EVERY spring.

(The third I should not have to mention but it is a problem....Those who leave strips in all winter long.)

Resistance is not found in hives that rotate ONE treatment applications per year between the two types of strips. Or beekeepers that follow directions, and those who treat only when needed as indicated by actually minitoring mite levels and doing testing.

[Branman]

so far I've just used small cell...but doesn't really mean anything yet cuz they've haven't been small cell very long, so who knows. I really need to do a 24 mite count. But who has two days in a row to do bee stuff much less anything relaxing or fun???? ARGH!!!!!

[Michael Bush]

This last fall I did two oxalic acid treatments a week apart after brood rearing had stopped. I did one more in the spring before brood rearing started. I think this is less labor than putting in apistan strips and taking them out.

I had 0 mites this spring.

I'm also regressing and while regressing was using the FGMO fog. FGMO fog is not a big knock down of mites. It just keeps the population under control (for some of us).

I also have SBB (Screened Bottom Boards).

Whatever you use, you need to monitor the results. All methods have been known to fail under some circumstances, which may include misunderstanding the proper application, or may be due to resistance. I would NOT use any method and assume it worked without monitoring.

In the long run I think the small cell is the least work, but it is work up front or, if you just start using small cell foundation instead of large cell and let it get replaced as you go, it will take a long time before you have enough regressed to be effective.

The whole concept of IPM (Integrated Pest Managment) is that you use a variety of things in combination in order to minimize resistance and maximize the results.

A single approach is not always the most effective one.

[loggermike]

loggermike,
>>All apiaries this year that have tested >positive with high mite counts and resistance, fall into two catagories.
>1) Those beekeepers who have used the SAME >strip year after year.


That was bound to happen

>2) Those beekeepers who treat every year with say...Apistan EVERY fall, and checkmite >EVERY spring.
This is a regional issue.
There are places where the mites build up early because of extended brood raising.My bees will have several frames of brood in the middle of Jan.and never stop from there till sometime in Nov.Further south brood raising continues year round at various levels. Re-infestation is a such problem that a treatment at each end of the season is essential.I would think that particular rotation would have extended the useful life of both products.If one treatment per season can control the mites,then rotating a different one each season would be the best scenario.There hasnt been much choice of products in the past,and some kind of gov.program to co-ordinate treatments in an area so everyone was on the same page would be helpful.This will never happen.The best we can hope for is for those who have this knowledge to make it available.Bee inspectors should be taking the lead(in those areas that still have them)


>(The third I should not have to mention but it is a problem....Those who leave strips in all winter long.)
Lazy beekeepers.

>Resistance is not found in hives that rotate ONE treatment applications per year between the two types of strips. Or beekeepers that follow directions, and those who treat only when needed as indicated by actually minitoring mite levels and doing >testing.

If one is operating in an area where thousands of hives are being moved in and out ,then I think its a matter of luck whether you get resistant mites or not.Your bees can pick up a huge infestation of mites in just a few days.Maybe resistant ones.I couldnt agree more on monitoring .EVERYONE keeping hives should build or buy sticky boards so you KNOW what is going on.Whenever I got lazy about monitoring is when disaster hit.

[loggermike]

>I would NOT use any method and assume it worked without monitoring.

Amen to that.Surprises really suck.It is really hard to knock back a big infestation.Better to hit them before they build up to damaging levels.