VARROA CONTROL 2007

Due to the high loss of bee Colonies this winter Ian Molyneux and I think the losses appear to be Varroa related. This is a personal view not that of DEFRA
During the summer months monitor the mite drop by putting a board under the mesh floor for 24 hours once a month. Count what the mite drop is. If it is more than 4 multiply this by 300 and this will give you an indication
Of how many mites are in the hive.

If the mite drop is over 4 you must give some sort of treatment. If not the Colony will fail by the end of the year.

During the summer months put a super frame in the middle of the brood nest. The bees will build wild comb below the frame and this is usually drone brood. When it is full and capped cull the wild comb of the bottom of the frame and replace frame in the middle of the brood. Alternatively use a brood frame size sheet of drone foundation, put it in the freezer in a plastic bag for 24 hours, cut the capping of and wash the brood and mites with a hose pipe down a grid, then replace the frame in the brood box. (The mites prefer to lay there eggs in drone cells).

You can also do a Shook Swarm. Shaking the bees on to new foundation if the stock is strong enough (if you can cage the queen that works better) and destroy the old brood frames with the brood and mites in it. You must feed the bees at least 2 gallons of feed. Do not be afraid to do this the bees will work a lot better after.

Or you can do a artificial swarm (see your bee books)

Doug Jones