How many varoa mites

Started by gaucho10, April 26, 2009, 04:05:05 PM

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gaucho10

Last week I checked my "only" colony which survived the winter and is very strong.  I noticed a high count of varoa mites on the SBB tray.  Two days ago I rechecked the tray and the count did not appear to be so high.  I also noticed that some of the bees where taking out "live" bees with deformed wings.  Today temps were 85 deg. F and I went through the whole hive.  I noticed no varoa mites (as far as I could see) on the bees themselves.  Then I decided to chop off two chunks of sealed drone brood at the bottom of the lower brood chamber.  I returned to the house and started to open up the cells and I noticed that 95% of the drone larvae contained 2, 3 and 4 varoa mites.  Is that high count due to the fact that I have a large number of varoa or is it due to those being the preferred "drone" cells that varoa like to infect?  OK...I guess it could be both...but is it normal for drone cells to be infected so high?
My favorite comedy program used to be Glenn Beck--The only thing is that after I heard the same joke over and over again it became BOOOORING.....

People who have inspired me throughout my life---Pee-wee Herman, Adolph Hitler, George W. Bush, Glenn Beck.
Notice I did not say they were people who I admire !!!

Kathyp

both.  :-)

sounds like you have a high mite count.  also sounds like your bees are trying to deal with it.  i would try to get a more accurate count with a sticky board, or PS roll.  you can probably look both up on here and get technique.

i ended up treating one hive this year.  the mite count was to high and the hive was not building up as it should have. 
The people the people are the rightful masters of both congresses and courts not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.

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Speech in Kansas, December 1859

gaucho10

I am trying to get back into beekeeping W/O the use of ANYTHING.  I hope I can deal with it.  The SBB is one of the NEW IPM items I am using along with my ventilated upper cover but I am trying not to use any type of chemicals.  So far they are pretty strong but they could crash on me quickly if I don't take some other type of action.
My favorite comedy program used to be Glenn Beck--The only thing is that after I heard the same joke over and over again it became BOOOORING.....

People who have inspired me throughout my life---Pee-wee Herman, Adolph Hitler, George W. Bush, Glenn Beck.
Notice I did not say they were people who I admire !!!

Kathyp

that's what i am doing also.  so far, the last two years have been pretty good.  this is the 1st hive i have had to treat and i am using apiguard.  that's probably about as natural as you can get with approved treatments.

you can always try the powdered sugar.  it seems to help.  OA is not approved for use in the US, but many use it.  i don't think it's anymore natural than thymol.   

what has helped me has been getting the established hives from cutouts, and from tree hive swarms, etc.  these bees seem to do much better without treatment, or with minimal treatment.  unfortunately, this hive was a very strong hive from a cutout a couple of years ago and for some reason got a really heavy mite infestation this year.  i didn't expect it with such a good brood break this year.
The people the people are the rightful masters of both congresses and courts not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.

Abraham  Lincoln
Speech in Kansas, December 1859

Michael Bush

>I returned to the house and started to open up the cells and I noticed that 95% of the drone larvae contained 2, 3 and 4 varoa mites.  Is that high count due to the fact that I have a large number of varoa or is it due to those being the preferred "drone" cells that varoa like to infect?

Yes and Yes.

>  OK...I guess it could be both...but is it normal for drone cells to be infected so high?

When you have a high number of Varroa.  Yes.  I would cut out all the drone comb which will get rid of a lot of Varroa.
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My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
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gaucho10

OK, but there are only a few spots where there are solid drone cells.  I will have to get my 4 green drone foundation frames in.  I started using the green foundation last season but the bees barely drew out the comb.  I guess I'll have to force it onto them. :evil:
My favorite comedy program used to be Glenn Beck--The only thing is that after I heard the same joke over and over again it became BOOOORING.....

People who have inspired me throughout my life---Pee-wee Herman, Adolph Hitler, George W. Bush, Glenn Beck.
Notice I did not say they were people who I admire !!!

doak

One frame will do for one colony, don't deplete your worker bee population too much.doak

slaphead

If you replace a deep frame with a drawn out medium frame your bees will build drone comb underneath the bottom bar.  Once the drone cells are sealed with brood you pull the frame, cut off the drone comb from the bottom edge and then put the frame back into the hive.  Using a medium frame on either side of the brood nest in this way, setup one week apart and in the top deep only provides you with a pretty effective varroa trap system.  If you are using medium boxes for your brood chamber you can do the same thing using shortened medium frames.  Add an extra "bottom bar" into any empty frame about 2 inches below the top bar.  Place foundation above this upper "bottom bar" and leave the space below open for them to build drone cells.

Hope this helps,

SH
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself - FDR, 1933

gaucho10

OK slaphead...your comment makes sence although I have never tried it.  But you are saying that instead of using a "full" frame, I can insert a medium and hopefully the bees will draw drone cells underneath.  I can then cut out the drones...correct?  I never hear anyone doing this before but it sounds likely.  Also it seems to be an easier way to remove drone cellas as opposed to taking and replacing a whole frame.  I'll try it!!!!!!!
My favorite comedy program used to be Glenn Beck--The only thing is that after I heard the same joke over and over again it became BOOOORING.....

People who have inspired me throughout my life---Pee-wee Herman, Adolph Hitler, George W. Bush, Glenn Beck.
Notice I did not say they were people who I admire !!!

Brian D. Bray

Quote from: gaucho10 on April 26, 2009, 09:11:56 PM
OK slaphead...your comment makes sence although I have never tried it.  But you are saying that instead of using a "full" frame, I can insert a medium and hopefully the bees will draw drone cells underneath.  I can then cut out the drones...correct?  I never hear anyone doing this before but it sounds likely.  Also it seems to be an easier way to remove drone cellas as opposed to taking and replacing a whole frame.  I'll try it!!!!!!!

Yes, that is exactly what he is saying.

As for the green drone comb, that is plastic and if you're using wax foundation with wooden frames the bees will be very reluctant to draw it out as plastic and wood don't mix well in the hive until after the combs are drawn, then it doesn't seem to matter too much.  With the exception that you'll find more brood on the wood frames than plastic.
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