TheCrazyBeeMan
10-11-2004, 11:40 AM
I have begun trying to use icing sugar to eliminate the Varroa mites within my 3 hives. I am trying to accomplish this by using a dry dust applicator which I push under the screened bottom board and then shoot a large volume of icing sugar into the hive. I have removable bottom board inserts which allow me to see the level of mite fall after each treatment. So far colony 1 had a natural fall of about 50 and is now around 20 for natural fall after the treatments. Colony 2 had around 100 to 200 mites for natural fall rate and now after each treatment is consistently around that same mark. Colony 3 has about 25 mites for natural drop and after blasting less has fallen out each time. Now my question is am I actually accomplishing anything in this attempt? My though is that as brood rearing comes to an end for winter the Varroa are forced onto the bees were the icing sugar can get them. I have tried the icing sugar on bees with mites and the mites do fall off but I wonder if it works in the same manner as I am trying? I talked to another beekeeper and he though that I should open the hives later towards November and do a blasting when little to no brood would be in the hive.
If I could get anyoneÂ’s thoughts or opinions that would be great.
If I could get anyoneÂ’s thoughts or opinions that would be great.