Well they've been installed over a month. I'm thinking that an accurate method to gauge their effectiveness is the alcohol wash using 1 cup of bees. If I recall correctly, using this method, the treatment threshold mite count is 25. If this method is accurate enough, I'll perform the test and post the results. Also, I understand that the sample bees should be nurse bees.
Ray
Looking forward to seeing your results!
Standing by Ray, it's going to be interesting one way or the other.
Randy Oliver say 1/2 Cup (roughly 300 bee)
http://scientificbeekeeping.com/sick-bees-part-11-mite-monitoring-methods/ (http://scientificbeekeeping.com/sick-bees-part-11-mite-monitoring-methods/)
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
Something you may like to read by Michael Bush
"I was just hoping to get the general principle across of what is happening when you treat."
http://bushfarms.com/beesvarroatreatments.htm (http://bushfarms.com/beesvarroatreatments.htm)
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
I missed this thread the 1st time around. how many mites did you introduce? I've been curious as to whether any of these mites might work.
http://www.arbico-organics.com/category/pest-solver-guide-mites (http://www.arbico-organics.com/category/pest-solver-guide-mites)
Quote from: Jim 134 on July 12, 2014, 12:24:49 AM
Randy Oliver say 1/2 Cup (roughly 300 bee)
http://scientificbeekeeping.com/sick-bees-part-11-mite-monitoring-methods/ (http://scientificbeekeeping.com/sick-bees-part-11-mite-monitoring-methods/)
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
Thanks Jim, I did the reading, count mites divide by 3, results divided by 100 equals the percent infestation. And your correct 1/2 cup equals 300 bees (close enough).
Quote from: rober on July 12, 2014, 11:47:58 AM
I missed this thread the 1st time around. how many mites did you introduce? I've been curious as to whether any of these mites might work.
http://www.arbico-organics.com/category/pest-solver-guide-mites (http://www.arbico-organics.com/category/pest-solver-guide-mites)
rober, This is what I did and when. Time does get away from us. I can already say this, SHB haven't been very active so far I can't say that it's because of the mites for sure.
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,44520.0.html (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,44520.0.html)
I hope to get this done Monday, weather permitting.
& did you get these from evergreen growers?
Quote from: rober on July 12, 2014, 09:05:40 PM
& did you get these from evergreen growers?
That's right. Very good people to deal with.
Okay, I did the alcohol wash mite count. I found my mite infestation to range between 3 and 8 percent. Considering the fact that they hadn't been treated using conventional methods since last year I don't think that is terribly bad.
Now, if asked if I consider this a viable treatment method for a large scale beekeeper, the answer would have to be no. The reason would be cost. It cost me a little over $70 for enough to treat 10 hives. Not bad if you have 10 hives but if you have 200, well you can do the math. Also, if you do decide to give this a try, apply to the top bars of the broodnest frames. I found that the peat medium that they are shipped in can linger on the frame and show up in the honey. Requires extra filtering.
It would be nice if some other beekeepers with some money to spare would give this a try. Being just me and only having 10 hives that they were applied to I'm pretty sure this is not anything near scientific. Also, I realize these mite levels are such that they would normally be treatment levels. I do have screened bottom boards with trays under all my hives. I'm always seeing varroa in the trays this could also contribute to the lower levels.
Oh yeah, the dirt in the trays idea, it turned out to be a good medium to support wax moth incubation.
If I've left anything out or you have any questions ask away.
when treating in a Langstroth hive with mite away ( never again ) or apiguard or....you put a 2" spacer between the brood boxes & under the inner cover to allow for enough room to place the strips or trays. if you use the spacers & put a piece of standard window screen on top of the frames & put the medium & the mites on the screen you'd be below the supers & would not have the medium getting into your honey. you could also remove the screen later & probably remove a lot of the medium with it. if you did this do you think the mites would leave the medium to hunt varrora?
rober, I'm pretty sure these mites distributed themselves through out the hives. According to the video they are pretty mobile. I don't know about the screen but it sounds like a viable solution.
I'm just thinking out loud here. since we do not know for sure I guess anything is worth a try. I'm putting sticky boards on now. i'll order some mites & do a comparison. how many mites do you suppose would be needed to treat 10 hives?
I ordered 2ltr. I used 1cup per.
what were your mite #'s before you used them? I do not really have much faith in using them for varroa control frankly, I'd just as soon powder sugar bath them and collect the mites on a tray and toss them out or drown them. I know a lot of them will come off with powdered sugar if you have them. not sure how many more would be attacked by predatory mites. supposedly these mites will eat like up to 5/day, but they leave the hive and do not really 'prefer' varroa, they will just eat them if there is nothing else they like better and if they are out and about. thats not a horrible thing. I've raised snails, and have used them before. maybe if you raised them yourself in a tank with hepa filters you could then keep applying them? just gotta keep feeding em thirps or maybe springtails.
I had just about given up on this line of treatment.
ray
how often do you go into these hives? weekly, biweekly, monthly
how many mites were on the bees count per hundred, and percentage of hive affected? before and after?
have you removed the oil tray?
have you seen mite parts on the bottom board?
Have you seen SHB parts on the bottom board?
jay
Ray
we are still waiting pasciently for your results.