Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DISEASE & PEST CONTROL => Topic started by: David LaFerney on September 29, 2009, 07:24:37 pm

Title: How do You monitor for varroa?
Post by: David LaFerney on September 29, 2009, 07:24:37 pm

I know that I've heard some other people here say that they only treat for mites when they have a problem, and I'm wondering how you know you have a problem.  I've never seen a mite on a bee this summer, but after building oil traps for SHB I saw  some varroa floating in the oil within only a couple of hours of changing the bottom boards for the traps.   This is not good, but I should have known. 

Anyway, how do YOU monitor for varroa mites?

Title: Re: How do You monitor for varroa?
Post by: AR Beekeeper on September 30, 2009, 11:15:34 am

I do a 24 hr natural mite fall count.  I do this for 3 days and then average to get the 24 hr average drop.

Title: Re: How do You monitor for varroa?
Post by: jdpro5010 on October 01, 2009, 03:03:24 pm

Alcohol Wash

Title: Re: How do You monitor for varroa?
Post by: Michael Bush on October 01, 2009, 09:44:52 pm

I used to do sugar shakes, natural drop and open up some drone brood.  Now I just keep my eyes open and once in a while a drone gets opened up that actually has one, or I see one on the back of a bee.  I couldn't find any natural drop the last few times I looked and got none on the sugar shakes.

Title: Re: How do You monitor for varroa?
Post by: David LaFerney on October 01, 2009, 10:33:51 pm

Quote from: jdpro5010 on October 01, 2009, 03:03:24 pm

Alcohol Wash

I assume that means you put some bees in a container with some alcohol.  Why do you think this method is better for you to use than a non lethal one like a sugar shake?

Title: Re: How do You monitor for varroa?
Post by: jdpro5010 on October 06, 2009, 10:50:36 am

iT IS FASTER EASIER AND CLEANER THAN ETHER IN MY OPINION