Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
the sugar. Then shake out the bees onto a sheet of white paper, where you will be able
to see the mites. You can then return the bees to the hive. This process does not harm
the bees; it only shakes them up a bit, and they will lick themselves clean. You can try
using this sugar-shake technique in spring and fall. If you have more than three or four
mites in spring or ten to twelve in fall, you should think about treating your hive.
Manybeekeepersalsooptforabottomboardwithascreen.WhendeadVarroamites
drop off the bees, they fall through the screen onto a piece of sticky white cardboard.
Thebeekeepercantheneasilycountthemitesonthewhiteboardtomonitormitelevels
and determine the threshold levels for treatment. Fifty or more mites means you should
probably look into treating your bees.
The drone-trapping method involves placing a frame inside your hive with
drone
foundation,
a sheet of beeswax with larger cells to accommodate the drones. The queen
will lay unfertilized eggs inside these larger cells. Since mites prefer the longer incub-
ation period of the drone larvae, they will naturally be drawn to the frame. Once the
frame is covered in capped drone brood, the beekeeper removes the frame and freezes
itovernight.Unfortunately,thismethodkillsthedrones,butitalsoremovesalargepro-
portion of mites.
TRACHEAL MITES
: These microscopic parasites (
Acarapis woodi
) live inside the
breathing tubes of queens, workers, and drones alike, and, like Varroa mites, feed on
bee blood. Their presence inside the bee causes internal wounds that lead to other in-
fections, makes it difficult for the bee to breathe, and interferes with its ability to fly.
Symptomsare
K-wing syndrome,
wherethetwowingsononesideseparate sothatthey
look like shape of the letter K, and bees that do not form a cluster in colder temperat-
ures.Oftenthesesymptomsarenoteasilydetectableandthereisnosurewaytoknowif
your colony is infected, so management is the key. Beekeeping suppliers offer a variety
of treatments for tracheal mites. I have heard that some beekeepers in Italy place fresh
sprigsofthyme,peppermint,andeucalyptus,herbsknowntoaidtherespiratorysystem,
on top of the frames inside their hives.
Feeding your honeybees grease patties is helpful to control tracheal mites in the
colony. You may mix the recipe for grease patties, on the next page, at home for your
bees.
NOSEMA DISEASE
: This disease, caused by the spore-forming parasites
Nosema apis
and
Nosema ceranae,
affects bees' digestive systems. During long periods of cold
weather, bees cannot always leave the hive to relieve themselves. When they defecate
inside the hive, nosema can spread quickly. Some signs of nosema can be bee feces
inside or on the outside walls of the hive. Medication approved for nosema should be
given.
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