Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
An infestation of varroa mites in your colony will destroy it unless you treat it. The
mite doesn't intend this to happen because it will then die out itself. The varroa mite
probably assists in vectoring into the bees some or all of the many viruses that are
normally endemic in bee colonies but which are kept in check by healthy colonies. By
biting into the bees and puncturing the bees' cuticle, the mite may well aid in the ingress
of viral particles and bacteria.
Since varroa arrived, we have learnt a great deal about this mite, but there is also much
we don't yet know. It may be that many of the so-called syndromes currently affecting
the western honey-bee are the result of varroa activity. While Chapter 10 discusses this
mite in more detail, suffice it to say here that, if you are in a varroa area, you will have
to treat your colonies. There is no avoiding this and, if you don't get it right, the colony
will without doubt die out and the wax moth will move in. In the early days of varroa
many beekeepers discovered that they were, in fact, wax-moth keepers! This happened
to me. Don't let it happen to you.
In the spring when your bee populations are growing fast, so are the numbers of varroa
mites, and so you must treat them. This means April/May in the Northern Hemisphere
and September/October in the Southern Hemisphere, and then again in the autumn.
There are many treatments and many ways of administering them so, because you are
starting out, find out what members of your local beekeeping association are doing
and follow their example. Once you have treated your hives you can at least be more
relaxed about the state of your hives over this period and will have done your best to
limit varroa damage.
There is, however, another problem that often arrives quite suddenly in the spring, and
that is swarming. Like varroa it is best to recognize that swarming may well occur and to
try to avoid this problem. If you fail to do this then you can at least limit the damage.
Have you ever been driving along in the spring and suddenly you heard multiple splats
on your windscreen, which became covered with muck? You looked out to see insects
