July 19, 2007

Late Summer Hive Evaluations and Honeybee Medications

Controversial Topics to Avoid Religion:

Politics:

AND

Honeybee Medications!!!!!!!!!

We are Conscientious Beekeepers Screened Bottom Boards

Sticky Board Tests (delay treating until economic threshold is exceeded)

Less Harmful Chemicals

Drone Frames

As conscientious beekeepers we should: Know that varroa is still the #1 threat. If

left untreated, infested colonies will die in 1 - 2 years.

Continue to improve our skills in evaluating presence of pests and disease

Make wise choices and be knowledgeable with our application. Use correctly to avoid resistance.

…..and evaluate first. What to look for: No - Not the Queen. Do

not be too harsh on the queen at this time of the year.

Now is not a good time to re-queen, especially if the hive is weak. Treat and regain control of mites. Stack if necessary and split later.

Yes - Brood Viability

Yes, July is Fall This is fall.

This is not fall. Many texts will tell you to medicate in the fall. Don’t wait until the leaves turn in October to treat!

Mite Numbers Increase Seasonally

Timing is Everything Evaluate hives now

Treat declining hives as soon as possible. Now is a stress time of the year as mite levels will increase over the next two months as nectar flows decline and brood rearing slows down. Heavy mite loads over the next two months will put them over the edge and unable to recover before the winter months begin.

Complete all treating before the September nectar and pollen flows begins. For us this means treating as close to August 1st as possible and allowing a month to get marginal control of the parasitic mites (varroa and tracheal). This allows the sick diseased bees, weakened and affected by the mites, to be replaced by a new healthy bee population which will survive the winter and be ready for growth in the spring.

Evaluation Hives will go downhill from now even if

you don’t see evidence.

Treat all hives for mites by August 1st.

This is the most important treatment of the year.

Indicators Sticky board tests. A good

tool to use in late summer hive evaluations. Delaplane lists threshold as follows: mite populations: 3172-4261ether roll levels: 15-38overnight sticky sheets: 59-187.

Sticky board tests can show the degree of varroa mite infestation as well as the effectiveness of your medication. Sticky board testing before medication is your means to understanding the degree of infestation. Sticky board testing after medication measures the effectiveness of the mite treatment.

Powdered sugar quick test Induces hygienic

behavior. Leave board in bottom for about one hour then count mites. My count was at about 40 after about 18 hours. I consider this to be high given the low number of bees in the hive.

Indicators Front Door Activity. A

general indicator of nectar flow and hive strength.

Indicators Debris at entrance.

Presence of numerous dead bees could indicate varroa infestation (could also be evidence of pesticide poisoning). Wax debris could indicate robbing, which could mean a weak population.

Indicators Quality of brood.

Varroa infestation causes brood problems with symptoms resembling European foulbrood. And sacbrood.

Severe infestations of Varroa mites within the cell (5 or more) can cause death to the pupa.

Indicators Bee population. A

reduced population of bees could be an indicator of varroa infestation.

The lifespan of newly emerged bees is reduced.

Indicators Appearance of bees.

Symptoms of varroa infestation include crumpled wings on bees and varroa mites on adult bees.

Emerged bees are smaller than normal, disjointed wings and shortened abdomens.

Indicators Appearance of brood.

In hives with high varroa infestation, uncapped larva will appear slumped and abandoned. Uncapped larva will probably not be fed sufficiently and will, in time, die. Visual evidence of varroa mites on uncapped larva.

Honey Bee Medications

Medication (see note)

Problem Active

Ingredient Advantages Disadvantages Comments

Apistan Varroa mite Fluvalinate Easy to use Mites are often resistant to Apistan. Kills only varroa.

Checkmite Varroa mite Coumaphos Harsh chemical. Application: 5-6 weeks (2 strips per brood chamber)

ApiLifeVar Varroa mite Essential Oils Natural Ingredients

Temperature Sensitive. Time-consuming application: (3 apps. 7-10 days apart).

Small hive beetles should be under control before using this medication.

Mite-Away II Varroa mite Formic Acid

No resistance. Also proven to be effective against tracheal mites.

Temperature Sensitive (apply when daytime high is between 50° and 78°). Potentially dangerous to honeybees.

Use strictly as directed. Formic acid can kill honeybees. Visit www.miteaway.com.

Apiguard Varroa Mite Thymol Also active against tracheal mite and chalk brood.

Thymol is a naturally occurring substance. No harmful effects on colony. Extremely easy to use.

Powdered Sugar Varroa Mite Powdered Sugar

Natural Ingredients. May be used to reduce mite count in spring w/ supers on.

Must apply consistently, three times per week for three weeks.

Must be used in conjunction w/ screened bottom board or no bottom board. Good emergency remedy for reducing mite count.

Terramycin American Foulbrood European Foulbrood

Terramycin (antibiotic)

Some resistance shown AF best destroyed by fire. Severe mite infestation & damage can simulate most of the foulbrood symptoms.

Tylan American Foulbrood European Foulbrood

Tylan (antibiotic)

Expensive

Grease Patties Tracheal mite Vegetable Shortening & Crystal Sugar

Can leave in year round.

More beetles with patties. Works by masking odor of young bees from mite.

Menthol Tracheal mite Menthol Temperature sensitive

Moth Crystals Wax Moth Para dichlorobenzene

Effective for treating empty supers to prevent moth damage to drawn comb.

Do not use in hives with live bees.

Wax moth damage is the result of weak or declining hives in late summer. Do not confuse moth crystals with moth balls (naphthalene).

Checkmite Small Hive Beetle Coumaphos Not effective when strip is placed in the cluster. Harsh chemical.

Beetle traps (using Checkmite) developed by BJ-very effective- more expensive than bait stations.

Beetle Bait Station Small Hive Beetle

Very effective. Can be used year round. Developed by South GA beekeepers.

Not an approved method. Available from BJ. Kills adult beetles in the hive.

Gardstar Small hive beetle pupae Permethrin Kills pupae stage in the soil.

Beetles have already reproduced and destroyed the bee colony.

Not a preventative. Use only after beetles have reproduced. Use as a soil drench.

Medication Notes: Always follow manufacturers directions. If left in

too long, the treatment can encourage resistance.

Medications have different active ingredients and work in different ways to control the pest and/or disease.

Using different products on a rotational basis may be effective in reducing resistance.

Temperatures Maximum and

minimum outdoor temperatures are important when choosing your medication.

Using Apiguard Close screened

bottom board and any other vent holes.

Maximum daily temperature should be between 60 and 105 degrees F.

Apiguard When using Apiguard

you must allow a ¼ inch spacing if you are using the meta tin container.

Otherwise, put the medication onto a flat cardboard covered with foil and replace inner and outer covers.

Apiguard Apiguard in place.

Apiguard Before and after.

What happened to my honey super?

I must keep an eye on food supplies in the brood chamber and possibly feed before treatment is finished in weeks.

Small Hive Beetle A small hive beetle

running for her life.

The answer to our small hive beetle prayers.

Foulbrood Applying Tylan.

Powdered Sugar Treatment A very good option,

especially during colder months when other miticides would not be effective. Very time consuming.

Pesky Wax Moths Keep an eye on your bees.

If you know a hive has died, IMMEDIATELY clean it out and store your equipment properly, or else……

Extensive wax moth damage is caused by neglecting to break down hives that have died. You could lose brood comb and several supers with drawn comb.

Mite Counting Screened bottom

board with reusable metal slide.

Solid bottom board with disposable sticky board.

Making it all worth while………