Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13

Thread: Tropilaelaps & Varroa found

  1. #1

    Default Tropilaelaps & Varroa found

    I checked my bottom board and found Tropilaelaps & Varroa mites. Not too many around 5 of each after a week. I gave the bees Apiguard on the 20th March and none of it has been touched yet.

    I am thinking of investing in Varrox to vaporise Oxalic acid crystals as I read that this is one of the best methods to use which doesn't affect honey produce.

    Has anyone tried this and let me know can it be used anytime out the year? I would use it once a week for 3 weeks to try and clear the mite cycle.

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Administrator gavin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Tayside
    Posts
    4,464
    Blog Entries
    41

    Default

    Oxalic acid is best used before there is brood rearing. As there will be quite a bit of brood rearing now you may be better with Apivar from Bridge Vets, or wait a bit until it is warmer and use a thymol method like Apiguard. Of course you could try repeated oxalic, but that isn't something I have experience of.

    However if you really do have Tropilaelaps this would be front page news! If you have mites that look a bit like them then perhaps you are just seeing some scavenging mites or even male Varroa.

  3. #3
    Senior Member fatshark's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Ardnamurchan & Fife
    Posts
    1,693

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gavin View Post
    However if you really do have Tropilaelaps this would be front page news!
    ... to put it mildly ... Tropilaelaps are notifiable as not present in the UK or EU. Beebase has more information.

    I have treated with OA with brood present with no obvious adverse effects (unless you're a mite). Empirical studies (by Pete L.) suggest that three treatments at 5 day intervals are necessary. However, as Gavin suggests, Apivar or Thymol would be a more standard solution.

  4. #4

    Default

    They looked so much like the pictures I've found online. Hopefully not but its the first I've ever noticed them so could well be male mites as I never got my hive and bees until September last year so this is my first year in beekeeping.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Mellifera Crofter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Aberdeenshire, on top of a wind-swept and exposed hill.
    Posts
    1,190

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gavin View Post
    ... you may be better with Apivar from Bridge Vets ...
    Bridge Vets was bought by Ark Vet Centre, Dumfries, but Robert is still there dealing with bees.

    Kitta

  6. #6
    Administrator gavin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Tayside
    Posts
    4,464
    Blog Entries
    41

    Default

    Thanks Kitta.

    Ah that interesting first year! Hope it goes well. Top marks to you anyway for spotting mites that have the look of Tropilaelaps. You could always send a sample to the ladies at SASA, they may be interested. Emma (on here) uses Hive Clean for Varroa control so there's another option.

    Fiona's address is on this page: https://www.sasa.gov.uk/diagnostics/entomology

    Last edited by gavin; 28-03-2016 at 11:47 PM.

  7. #7

    Default

    There are some good advice leaflets here : http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageid=167
    You'll find within a seasonal guide to pest management which explains a range of chemical & biological
    controls you can use (e.g. Apiguard works better at higher temps than we are getting in EK at present)

    I vapourise oxalic in Dec/Jan when there is little or no brood present, at that time the mites are living on the bees
    & oxalic effectively kills them. There are cheaper alternatives to a varrox which many people use.
    Sublimated oxalic is dangerous/potentially lethal if the fumes are breathed in so look into getting the correct PPE for it

    your local association (Lanarkshire beekeepers) would be happy to look at your mites & coincidently are meeting this coming Monday
    (7.30pm Clydesmill firestation Cambuslang). They are a good source of advice on many aspects of managing bees

  8. #8
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Sligo, North West Ireland
    Posts
    11

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by greig1983 View Post
    They looked so much like the pictures I've found online. Hopefully not but its the first I've ever noticed them so could well be male mites as I never got my hive and bees until September last year so this is my first year in beekeeping.
    Your bottom board will always be full of mites and general "creepy crawlies" scavenging in the detritus.

  9. #9

    Default

    On the subject of creepy crawlies in Bee hives can anyone tell me if there are any Braula coeca (the so called bee louse) still existing on bees in hives on the Scottish mainland or any on any of the Scottish isles? Has the various Varroa treatments killed them all off ? What about Ireland? I believe there are still some on the Isle of Man.

  10. #10
    Senior Member fatshark's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Ardnamurchan & Fife
    Posts
    1,693

    Default

    I've seen Braula on bees from Colonsay.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •