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Re: Sustainable Varroa mite control
>X-Sender: wgysi@mail.awinc.com
>Date: Thu, 23 May 1996 09:06:54 -0700
>To: Ronald Nigh <danamex@mail.internet.com.mx>
>From: Werner Gysi <gooly@mail.awinc.com>
>Subject: Re: Sustainable Varroa mite control
>
>Hi Ronald,
>I have heard many reports of Apistan resistant bees in the south of
>Switzerland due to missuse of the chemical. It seems to be always the case
>that somehow it turns sour. This is why we practice farming with only
>natural products and if possible things we do not have to buy or are readely
>available, to maintain our independence and fredom.
>
>I hav not figuered out how to send a message to sa-net and therefor answer
>your request directly to you as good as I can. Please feel free to put this
>information out for others to read.
>I have kept bees for 17 years and 15 years of it in Canada. While in Canada
>I did never use any antibiotics or other chemicals but fed my bees with
>herbal teas. I do not have any problems with nosema and had one outbreak of
>AFB. Three years ago a beekeeper spilled some honey while traveling around a
>sharp bend in the road nearby. That was enough to spread it. But we burned
>all the frames/bees that were infected and torched out the boxes etc (AFB
>spreads by the honey, pollen and brood). With this method we have
>encountered no further problems. We however also recycle all our own beeswax
>and with this no spores are carried in via sources from outside. I have a
>VHS video about how to recycle beeswax from a to z. Nosema was never a
>problem with the method we use to keep bees. We have had no varroa mite yet,
>even though they are all around us now. The tracheal mite has been detected
>this year but on a rather low level and with no impact at all (maby due to
>the climate).
>About Varroa:
>We consider to use the following methods if mites would be detected in the
fall:
>In the early spring (before to much brood is available) using thyme- and
>sage- essential oils we would spray the colony using 1% thyme and .5% sage
>oils. It needs 10 ml per colony and is sprayed into the hive with as fine a
>nozzle as possible (as it is an oil). The oil should be 35 degree C. It
>sould take about 1 minute to spray one colony. This treatment has to be
>repeated 3 times in intervals of 3 to 4 days. This method has been used in
>France and I have this information from the beekeeper journal
>"Schweizerische Bienenzeitung", April 4/91.
>In spring, when the dandelions flower and the spring management is due we
>remove the 2 drone frames put in last year and replace it with a 1" cut off
>comb. This will allow them to build more drone cells and to produce two more
>frames of drone brood. Varroa is attacking mostly drone brood. After about
>30 days this brood is checked and if infested, cut again.
>
>However formic acid at a 60% concentration (the secretion from the ants)
>used in Switzerland has been very effective and easier to apply. A higher
>concentration is used if applied at the bottom of the hive (85%). They use a
>"Kraemer Platte" (the name comes from the guy that did the first commercial
>products) which is a plate that soacks up the formic acid and is then
>wrapped into plastic foil and holes drilled into it. It needs as many holes
>as to evaporate 7g per day. the plate is placed on top of the frames. This
>has been found to be enough to kill the mites up to about 95% success per
>treatment done in the fall (or right after the removal of the honey and one
>about a month later). Day temperatures need to be above 20 degree C. Some
>also use honey jars or similar with the liquid in it and a linen pulled
>through a slot in the lid to soak out the liquid for evaporation. All this
>is put above the frames, about 3 to 4 cm away from the 1st frame. I would
>think above the hole on the inner cover would work fine, using an empty box
>atop the inner cover to provide a space. As I understand formic acid also
>removes tracheal mites. It is recommended that you use rubber gloves and eye
>protection.
>
>Oxalic acid is another substance that could be used in a 3% solution. Oxalic
>acid is naturally in the honey. Rhubarb leaves have a .8% content in their
>leaves. I speculate to do some experimenting on that, extracting the juice
>from the leaves and to apply it to the bees at the time the leaves are
>available. Also spinach has oxalic acid in a natural form but is available
>later in the spring only. This is what makes your tounge rough when you eat
>to much of it. I have no experience on the effect on the mite.
>
>I also heard that there are varroa resitent bees in Africa or the far east
>available for warmer climates, which would suit you just fine. You may want
>to investigate on that on the Internet and sa-net.
>I hope to be of help and may hear from you again. It sounds like you have a
>lot of challenging things to do in Mexico. Please let me know where you are
>located and what you are doing? Please feel free to call up my homepage
>http://www.jetstream.net/business/gooly if you like to find out more about
>us and my book "Harmonic Farming: a love style".
>
>Werner M.Gysi
>
>At 05:41 PM 5/22/96 -0600, you wrote:
>>Dear Sanet users,
>>
>>Is anyone working on a non-chemical approach to varroa mite control for
>>honey production.??? So far two insecticides have had to be "retired" from
>>use due to toxic residues in the honey. Much of the little literature we've
>>been able to find seems to assume that insecticides are the only control.
>>Have there been any results on possible biological control agents,
>>management practices or other approaches? Thanks.
>>Ronald Nigh
>>Dana Association
>>Mexico
>>danamex@mail.internet.com.mx
>>
>>
>
>
>
Ronald Nigh
Dana Association
Mexico
danamex@mail.internet.com.mx