[MillerPutnam]

I have a friend whom I’m mentoring that has decided not to treat his two hives in my apiary. I have about 15 hives my son and I treat with vaporized Oxalic acid. Should I worry about having two untreated hives within my apiary and could the two untreated hives help spread mites into my treated hives ? Really hope I can get some guidance from other beekeepers.

 

[Oldtimer]

I would worry, yes.

If his hives get loaded up with mites, they will very definately spread into your hives.

It is completely unreasonable for him to carry out his TF experiment, in your apiary. Although his intentions may not be bad, he probably just has not thought it through, or seen it from your viewpoint.

It's difficult when dealing with a friend, to kick him out. However he is being absolutely inconsiderate. You got 2 choices. Allow him to continue his experiment in your apiary, or, ask him to do the experiment somewhere else.

Ask him, would he be happy for you to run a fox farm, in his chicken house, or should the fox farm be run somewhere else.

 

[Oldtimer]

As an aside, i have several times been approached by "friends", who have a hive or two they cannot find a home for, ask me if they can put them in one of my bee yards.

Although very uncomfortable with the idea, because they are a "friend" and it's hard to say no, a few times I have agreed. For one reason or another, each time the whole thing has turned to custard, and caused ill will, and it would have been less damaging to have said a straight up no, up front in the first place. Which is now what I do.

 

[little_john]

Whole heartedly agree with Oldtimer - except that I'd use the term 'Horlicks' instead of 'custard'.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Horlicks

LJ

 

[fieldsofnaturalhoney]

I have a friend whom I’m mentoring that has decided not to treat his two hives in my apiary. Should I worry about having two untreated hives within my apiary and could the two untreated hives help spread mites into my treated hives ?

Did you not know he wasn't going to treat them before agreeing to house them? Are the bees from a TF line?, if not, why is he not treating them? Mites will spread both ways. It may be a short experiment anyway

 

[Oldtimer]

Millar has said he is mentoring the guy. Which would indicate the other guy is a new inexperienced beekeeper. Probably read some of that TF stuff on the internet and is now enthused to try it out.

If allowed will blunder along, unaware of the harm he is doing, because the internet told him it's all good.

Millar is treating his bees which indicates they are not resistant, and it's unlikely the other guys bees are resistant either.

The end result will be the newby's hives will die, and along the process flood Millars hives with mites. Because Millar is using AO vapor, and not something more potent like synthetic strips, Millars hives could be exposed to considerable harm.

If someone wanted to try TF beekeeping in one of my apiaries, the answer would be an in his face NO. I would not even remotely contemplate such a thing.

 

[MillerPutnam]

Thanks. Guys. This is the answer I got from my son in the beginning so, good to hear consistent answers across the board. I did not know he was not going to treat when we started and he’s new... probably didn’t know himself. But I will give him his choices and see what happens. Thank you so much.

 

[Oldtimer]

If it's hard being forced to say no to a friend, show him this thread to help him see reason.

 

[LAlldredge]

Another option if you’re open to it is offering to treat his hives at the same time you are treating your own for a fee. Or having him rent your equipment so he can treat his own. Sometimes the price of the equipment can get in the way. This might be a good teaching moment.

 

[fieldsofnaturalhoney]

MillerPutnam, I assume since you didn’t answer the question if the bees originated from a TF line, they didn’t. So, since you are his mentor, you should mentor him into realizing how bad of an ideal this is?

 

[JWPalmer]

To heck with all that, treat his hives and don't tell him. You have to protect your bees. In the time between now and next spring, maybe you can bring him around or help him find another place for his hives to die.

 

[bushpilot]

I'd tell him that the apiary is not TF, but you will gladly treat his when you treat yours. Better yet, he can join you and learn how to do it. But not treating, not an option.

 

[elmer_fud]

I would put robber screen son his hive ASAP to keep your bees out of his hives when the crash and they start robbing.

I would also recommend pushing him to treat, but that is harder to do.

 

[Kamon A. Reynolds]

In a video series we have been doing a colony that was left untreated for experimental purposes had 94 mites in an alcohol wash of 300 bees!!!

If this hive was not monitored and had collapsed it could have spread many thousand mites thru my beeyard. FYI after 5 OAVs it was still washing a 32. After 3 additional rounds AND apivar it washed a zero. The colony has shrunk and still has signs of multiple viruses (suprises surprise)

If I was mentoring him I would show him some tough love and tell him to treat or find a different yard.

 

[rwlaw]

Another point to consider is Randy Oliver found that sick or weak bees will migrate to another hive thinking they’re doing their hive a favor.

 

[viesest]

I did not know he was not going to treat when we started and he’s new...

An alternative method for selecting treatment free bees should be offered to new optimistic beekeepers. The principle of method is not selecting from the best, but deselecting the worst, bees or mites. In that method the bees are under moderate pressure and that is allegedly the best for evolution. The method can be called LTE.

From Tennessee's Bees LLC's post:

FYI after 5 OAVs it was still washing a 32. After 3 additional rounds AND apivar it washed a zero. The colony has shrunk and still has signs of multiple viruses (suprises surprise)

That is how deselection works; the bees are weakened and mites are eliminated by extensive treatment.

Eventually treatment / no treatment ratio should be adjusted to target 20% - 30% looses.

 

[Kamon A. Reynolds]

An alternative method for selecting treatment free bees should be offered to new optimistic beekeepers. The principle of method is not selecting from the best, but deselecting the worst, bees or mites. In that method the bees are under moderate pressure and that is allegedly the best for evolution. The method can be called LTE.

From Tennessee's Bees LLC's post:


That is how deselection works; the bees are weakened and mites are eliminated by extensive treatment.

Eventually treatment / no treatment ratio should be adjusted to target 20% - 30% looses.

We just requeened the colony. No need for bees to die for no reason. This was for our youtube channel. The videos main goal was to show that OAV isn't quite as effective as many think it is with brood present in the hive. Also, to show that mites are to be taken seriously.

The vast majority of new beekeepers can't afford the method of letting hives perish. Nor do they have the skill or wherewithal to raise and select stock. Fundamental beekeeping and mite control is more important. If they want to dabble with TF stuff then that should come after they learn some basics not before.

 

[Fivej]

Well said Tennessee Bees. J

 

[snapper1d]

Those two hives of your friends just treat them with yours and dont tell him.His bees will then hopefully live and make him a crop of honey he will be proud of.You wont get mite bombs from his.Its only takes a few minutes of your time and you are covered.He is covered.Both of you are happy and you keep your friend happy.

 

[viesest]

The videos main goal was to show that OAV isn't quite as effective as many think it is with brood present in the hive.

And in addition to that treatment in summer is complicated and/or expensive. So, in 'theory' very efficient winter treatment plus just a bit resistant bees and summer treatment could be skipped, avoided.