New Mite Treatment

[cochran500]

I read this in a newsgroup. Thought some of you might enjoy.

Fooling bees

"To rid their bees of infestations with mites," the New Scientist
says, "apiarists needn't use pesticides, thanks to a new idea from
Finnish company Urpo Vainio. A mirrored sheet is placed inside the
beehive, with the surface angled to catch light coming into the hive
from the opening through which bees enter the hive. This confuses them
and they rush at the mirror, where they hit a protective mesh
suspended in front of it. The shock of impact detaches the mites,
which fall down through the mesh onto a tray, which is periodically
pulled out and cleaned by the beekeeper."

[Michael Bush]

Let me see if I understand this. The bees constantly rush the mirror and knock off mites. And who takes care of the brood and gathers nectar and pollen? Maybe I'm missing something. Shoulds like you could try the idea by simply getting a mirror small enough to fit under your SBB and then putting it at the right angle. Do you think the bees believe they are being attacked?

[Dave W]

Greetings . . . cochran500

That's Cute! I like it.

You must be careful, some may read it and think you are serious.

Got to go now. While sun is bright, I want to look in my hive, and see if the mirror is working.

Dave W

[scott_dixon]

true or not, I don't particularly like the idea of the word "shock" used in conjunction with "bee". looks like if they were that easy to knock off, a fair amount would fall off anyway during take-off, landing etc.

[mark williams]

Put one in my bird's cage,poor bird bet it's self to death.>>>>Mark

[BjornBee]

Cochran500 alias Hoosierhiver. I may be on to something......

[loggermike]

Well I didnt want to reveal this until I had a patent of some kind.I have been putting cheap transistor radios on a hive here and there tuned into all night hard rock stations,to kinda keep the bears away.Well guess what?I found that those hives had almost no mites .I can only assume that the bees are dancing vigorously all night and that is shaking off the mites which fall through the cracks of my rotting bottom boards.How can I sell this discovery?

[cochran500]

Hey Logger,
I think I like your idea better than the 1 found in the newsgroups.

[loggermike]

I'm sure its every bit as practical.

[Jorge]

I'm glad I did not start this new "mirror" anti-mite protocol. With the louzy weather we have had in the northeast (at most one day/week of sun since March), the mirror idea would not only not have work at all, but also have the poor bees twice confused with clouds constantly "shining" outside as well as inside the hive.

[Michael Bush]

I think you should alternate between Death Metal and Rap music. Statistics say that most people despise them both. If the mites hate them that much maybe they would move out? Of course it might set off swarming and absconding too.

[loggermike]

I think the bear hated the music,too.He came in,sent the radio flying and proceded to tear the hive apart with a vengeance.He won,I moved.