Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DISEASE & PEST CONTROL => Topic started by: Animator on March 28, 2010, 06:48:16 pm

Title: Honey flow about to start -varroa spotted
Post by: Animator on March 28, 2010, 06:48:16 pm

Live in South Florida. Checking hives and found lots of little red bugs on hive cover.  Honey is about to start.  Can I wait to treat or should I toss out the idea of honey this year.  Or - should I wait and see. I favor trying to let natural selection take its course but are my hives surely doomed ?  Can I wait to treat varroa ?
Mike. 

Title: Re: Honey flow about to start -varroa spotted
Post by: harvey on March 28, 2010, 06:51:25 pm

If it is mites, couldn't you do a powdered sugar treatment?  That wouldn't affect your honey harvest would it?

Title: Re: Honey flow about to start -varroa spotted
Post by: Animator on March 28, 2010, 07:53:26 pm

Recent studies suggest that sugar dusting is not effective.  On some levels I would like to see if they can survive but I think the consensus us that bees don't survive this type of problem. My real worry is this spreadimg to the other hives and a cascade effect.

Is leaving it alone an option ?
 

Title: Re: Honey flow about to start -varroa spotted
Post by: hardwood on March 28, 2010, 08:00:33 pm

If it were me I'd treat with oxalic acid. It's a little late for much else really, unless you wish to cede this year's honey.

Scott

Title: Re: Honey flow about to start -varroa spotted
Post by: Kathyp on March 28, 2010, 08:04:56 pm

little bugs on the cover does not sound like mites.  do you have pictures?

Title: Re: Honey flow about to start -varroa spotted
Post by: doak on March 28, 2010, 08:51:36 pm

Ditto what Kathyp says. never found any Varroa mites on the inside of covers:)doak

Title: Re: Honey flow about to start -varroa spotted
Post by: Animator on March 28, 2010, 09:16:39 pm

Ok. Pics tomorrow.   I'll be awake then too !

Title: Re: Honey flow about to start -varroa spotted
Post by: buzzbee on March 28, 2010, 09:33:06 pm

Better chance of small hive beetle.

Title: Re: Honey flow about to start -varroa spotted
Post by: Animator on March 28, 2010, 10:04:35 pm

Nah.  No way on the SHB
mike

Title: Re: Honey flow about to start -varroa spotted
Post by: Jahjude on March 29, 2010, 02:55:17 pm

COme on Animator,thk i can speak on the behalf of others when i say that we're patiently awaiting the pictures.

Title: Re: Honey flow about to start -varroa spotted
Post by: Animator on March 29, 2010, 11:59:07 pm

Bad weather.   Will post as soon as it clears. 

Title: Re: Honey flow about to start -varroa spotted
Post by: Bee Happy on March 30, 2010, 12:58:18 am

 :pop:

Title: Re: Honey flow about to start -varroa spotted
Post by: Scadsobees on March 30, 2010, 09:06:51 am

I'm with Kathy and doak...sounds like some kind of red mite or spider mite, not varroa.  I wouldn't describe varroa as a "bug", looks more like a red wax flake.

Title: Re: Honey flow about to start -varroa spotted
Post by: AllenF on March 30, 2010, 11:32:04 pm

Red bugs = Chiggers if they were on leaves or pants legs.

Title: Re: Honey flow about to start -varroa spotted
Post by: Paynesgrey on April 04, 2010, 10:57:19 am

PennyRoyal plants will repel anything that chews or sucks blood, chiggers, fleas, ticks, if those are a problem where you are working. Works best to crush leaves and rub on skin, or on cuffs, socks etc,  but growing them in area discourages the bloodsuckers too. Pleasant smelling herb that grows like a weed once you get it going.