Taking the fight to Varroa mites and SHB right away!

1959 Views 7 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Robbin, Apr 2, 2014

labradorfarms

Discussion Starter · Mar 29, 2014

I have read so many storys online about people losing hives to SHB,Varroa mites. When it seems to me that it could have been prevented if they had addressed the pest right away or not neglected to check for them. I may be dead wrong .. I am new and want to bee a good Bee Keeper. So I like to ask questions.

Is it ok to use grease patty's for Varroa mites on a new package of bee's while feeding sugar syrup?
I have also ordered Freeman SHB traps and plan to start out with those right away and keep them on year round..

My idea is to take the fight to the Varroa mites and SHB right away..
What do you guys think?

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DPBsbees

· #2 · Mar 29, 2014

labradorfarms said:
Is it ok to use grease patty's for Varroa mites on a new package of bee's while feeding sugar syrup?

Grease patties don't work. Go over to http://scientificbeekeeping.com/varroa-management/ and read what Randy Oliver has to say about varroa management. No point in wasting your time with things that don't work.

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labradorfarms

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 29, 2014

Thanks for that link......
Some people have told me not to worry about Varroa mites until the fall. As my new package should have already been treated...
I still wanted to do some natural treatment to keep them in check . So that's why a grease patty came to mind.

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beemandan

· #4 · Mar 29, 2014

labradorfarms said:
I still wanted to do some natural treatment to keep them in check . So that's why a grease patty came to mind.

Grease patties help with tracheal mites....but most stocks today are already resistant, so it is rarely used any longer. It doesn't help, at all, with varroa. Don't bother. Shb? I'd highly recommend that you find a local beekeeper who has been keeping bees in your area for a while and find out what they use.

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DocHivetool

· #5 · Mar 30, 2014 (Edited)

Was getting thick SHB last summer and it was getting out of hand. Do some homework or ask around about a bottom board style oil trap ( e.g. Greenbeehivesdotcom). It worked well enough with minimal carryover on bee population here at that time of year. That specifically may not work in your application, but you should check it out. Your results may vary :lookout:

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sqkcrk

· #6 · Mar 30, 2014

labradorfarms said:
Is it ok to use grease patty's for Varroa mites on a new package of bee's while feeding sugar syrup?
I have also ordered Freeman SHB traps and plan to start out with those right away and keep them on year round..

I believe that grease patties are illegal in some States, leastwise ones made w/ Terrymicin in them. I don't know what you expect them to do for you. I don't think grease patties have much effect on varroa mites.

I don't have any experience w/ beetle traps.

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Margot1d

· #7 · Mar 30, 2014

For managing verroa throughout season year, if you are the hands on type, you can do drone harvesting. Mannlake has drone sized foundation. Pull it when it is capped after 21 days, and start over. I feed it to chickens but you can freeze it and the bees will clean it out. You just have to make sure you don't forget to pull it. Letting it emerge is counter productive.

You are not guaranteed to get a verroa free package. My group treats with formic before distribution.

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Robbin

· #8 · Apr 2, 2014

Free bettle traps are great. They also kill a lot of mites. I keep them on my hives year round. I treat for mites twice a year, once during the summer derth and again in late fall going into winter.

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