So - where are the mites?

tjc1 · August 23, 2016, 07:53:32 PM

I haven't seen too many signs of mites (on bottom board) of my (spring package) hive, but the same thing happened last year and by September it was a mess and I lost both my hives because I treated too late. So, I decided to give an OAV treatment now. I did so successfully, but after 24 hours only 15 mites had dropped?!?! Last year it was over 1000. Other beeks locally are reporting heavy mite counts - how can this be possible?

BeeMaster2 · August 23, 2016, 08:43:09 PM

Where did you get this hive from? Was it a swarm from a feral hive possibly or a cut out of a wild hive?
Your bees may be hygentic enough to keep the mites under control.
Jim

tjc1 · August 23, 2016, 10:34:33 PM

Hi Jim - this was a regular package of Georgia bees, started this spring. They have grown really well, having had all drawn comb to work with from my last-year hives.

Jim134 · August 23, 2016, 10:53:26 PM

From everything I heard and read it takes 3 days before you get a good mite drop on OAV.
All I can say patience Grasshopper patience

You do realize you are only killing the phoretic mites ?

BEE HAPPY Jim 134

Quote from: Jim 134 on August 12, 2016, 10:55:55 PM
https://youtu.be/q4WvPNmS7uc

Something you might like to watch to know more about varroa mites.

BEE HAPPY Jim 134

Jim134 · August 23, 2016, 11:27:00 PM

You may like to read the directions on how you're supposed to use Oxailc acid .
Something to remember the label is the law. I Hope you have a great day.

You will find it on page 3 and 4.

https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/091266-00001-20150310.pdf

BEE HAPPY Jim 134

GSF · August 24, 2016, 08:17:17 AM

tjc, did you oav last year? I've always heard what jim said about the 3 days as well.

Acebird · August 24, 2016, 09:03:26 AM

@tjc1
Did you know what the colony looked like before you treated? Hive dwindling/strong? Brood present? Lots of honey/ no honey? I hope you didn't treat just because. If you are going to use OA it takes multiple cycles. I think the minimum is three otherwise it is ineffective.

tjc1 · August 24, 2016, 12:17:06 PM

Thanks everyone. I treated based on my experience last year, where I had low mite counts until end of September. I kept putting off any treatment, hoping I would not to have to treat because I would rather not. As a result, by the time I treated it was too late and I ended up losing both hives. Finding the same situation this year, and hearing that other beeks were reporting heavy counts, I decided, based on reading, to treat now so that the hive would have several brood cycles to out-breed the mites going into the winter.

BTW, in past years I had used the MAQS when it seemed necessary, with seemingly effective results - it mostly went well, but in 2014 both hives experienced a fair number of dead bees and perhaps a reduction in late brood for winter bees. The OAV seemed to offer a more benign possibility based on European experience, and I thought that it would be good to alternate treatment types anyway. But the last two years I have lost all of my hives before winter, so I'm trying to find something that will help the bees survive.

When I did the oav treatment last year, I got an immediate big drop in 24 hours - perhaps a reflection of how bad things were. That's why I was surprised to see so few on this occasion - I'll see what happens on day 3 and report back.

Hops Brewster · August 24, 2016, 03:19:41 PM

Have you done an alcohol wash to get a mite count? Bottom boards only collect the mites that for one reason or another have come detached from the bee, and don't necessarily give an accurate picture of your mite population.
If you're strongly averse to killing a few hundred bees in order to save many thousands, then sugar roll them. Still not as accurate as alcohol, but better than looking at cripples on a BB.

tjc1 · August 25, 2016, 12:04:53 AM

Thanks, Hops - I'll give that a try (I know, should have done already...).

BTW, we have lots of Brewsters here in Plymouth - are you connected to out here (as in via the Mayflower?)

Hops Brewster · August 25, 2016, 11:19:31 AM

Quote from: tjc1 on August 25, 2016, 12:04:53 AM
Thanks, Hops - I'll give that a try (I know, should have done already...).

BTW, we have lots of Brewsters here in Plymouth - are you connected to out here (as in via the Mayflower?)

Home brewed beer with my homegrown hops.
Can't make a direct trace to the Mayflower but can lay claim to SAR

Michael Bush · August 25, 2016, 12:13:58 PM

My ancestors arranged for the Mayflower and came over on the next boat to Plymouth. Some of my other ancestors met the boat...

tjc1 · August 25, 2016, 07:59:51 PM

Hops, that's funny - I should have been on that as a former brewer myself. I had to give it up the time I peeled the wallpaper in the kitchen with all the steam...;)

Michael - sounds like you'd be right at home here in America's Home Town (as we like to call it)!

Blacksheep · August 27, 2016, 02:00:21 PM

I will be fogging my hives early in the morning with Mineral oil .They will nee 3 treatments 7 days apart>I hope it works as I saw some bees on the landing board this morning shaking and trying to get rid of them mites!

tjc1 · August 27, 2016, 04:34:10 PM

After 4 days there was still no drop of mites - over the 4 days the total was maybe 20-25... I can't quite believe that I have a mite-free hive, not these days.

BeeMaster2 · August 28, 2016, 05:01:33 AM

Tjc,
It is very possible your bees know how to deal with the mites. What color are the mites?
On Thursday I cleaned out all of my dry oil trays. On Friday I checked one of them and found one mite I one of the hives. I only had a few minutes in the yard. Today I plan on checking all of the hives and documenting the count.
Jim

tjc1 · August 28, 2016, 04:17:25 PM

Hi Jim,

The mites are just the usual (in my experience) chestnut brown color.

BeeMaster2 · August 28, 2016, 08:50:00 PM

I asked because if they were light in color they would be adolescents and your bees would be doing a good job of cleaning them out before they were fully developed.
I checked my hives. It has been 3 days since I cleaned them. Most had 0 mites some had just a few, ink had 7 and one had 20 mites. Most of these hives are 5 to 6-10 frame medium hives.
In Almost every hive I killed 10 to 15 SHBs.
Jim