Transcript July 19, 2007 - Cherokee Bee Club Welcomes You!

July 19, 2007
Late Summer Hive Evaluations
and Honeybee Medications
Controversial Topics to Avoid
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Religion:

Politics:

AND
Honeybee Medications!!!!!!!!!
We are Conscientious Beekeepers
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Screened Bottom Boards
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Sticky Board Tests (delay treating until
economic threshold is exceeded)
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Less Harmful Chemicals
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Drone Frames
As conscientious beekeepers we should:
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Know that varroa is still the #1 threat. If
left untreated, infested colonies will die in
1 - 2 years.
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Continue to improve our skills in
evaluating presence of pests and disease
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Make wise choices and be knowledgeable
with our application. Use correctly to
avoid resistance.
…..and evaluate first.
What to look for:
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No - Not the Queen. Do
not be too harsh on the
queen at this time of the
year.

Now is not a good time to
re-queen, especially if the
hive is weak. Treat and
regain control of mites.
Stack if necessary and split
later.
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Yes - Brood Viability
Yes, July is Fall
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This is fall.
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This is not fall. Many
texts will tell you to
medicate in the fall.
Don’t wait until the
leaves turn in October
to treat!
Mite Numbers Increase Seasonally
Timing is Everything
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Evaluate hives now
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Treat declining hives as soon as possible. Now is a stress
time of the year as mite levels will increase over the next
two months as nectar flows decline and brood rearing slows
down. Heavy mite loads over the next two months will put
them over the edge and unable to recover before the winter
months begin.

Complete all treating before the September nectar and
pollen flows begins. For us this means treating as close to
August 1st as possible and allowing a month to get
marginal control of the parasitic mites (varroa and
tracheal). This allows the sick diseased bees, weakened and
affected by the mites, to be replaced by a new healthy bee
population which will survive the winter and be ready for
growth in the spring.
Evaluation
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Hives will go downhill from now even if
you don’t see evidence.
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Treat all hives for mites by August 1st.
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This is the most important treatment of
the year.
Indicators
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Sticky board tests. A good
tool to use in late summer
hive evaluations. Delaplane
lists threshold as follows:
mite populations: 3172-4261
ether roll levels: 15-38
overnight sticky sheets: 59187.
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Sticky board tests can show
the degree of varroa mite
infestation as well as the
effectiveness of your
medication. Sticky board
testing before medication is
your means to understanding
the degree of infestation.
Sticky board testing after
medication measures the
effectiveness of the mite
treatment.
Powdered sugar quick test
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Induces hygienic
behavior. Leave
board in bottom for
about one hour then
count mites. My
count was at about 40
after about 18 hours.
I consider this to be
high given the low
number of bees in the
hive.
Indicators
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Front Door Activity. A
general indicator of
nectar flow and hive
strength.
Indicators

Debris at entrance.
Presence of numerous
dead bees could
indicate varroa
infestation (could also
be evidence of
pesticide poisoning).
Wax debris could
indicate robbing,
which could mean a
weak population.
Indicators
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Quality of brood.
Varroa infestation
causes brood
problems with
symptoms resembling
European foulbrood.
And sacbrood.
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Severe infestations of
Varroa mites within
the cell (5 or more)
can cause death to the
pupa.
Indicators
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Bee population. A
reduced population of
bees could be an
indicator of varroa
infestation.
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The lifespan of newly
emerged bees is
reduced.
Indicators
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Appearance of bees.
Symptoms of varroa
infestation include
crumpled wings on
bees and varroa mites
on adult bees.
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Emerged bees are
smaller than normal,
disjointed wings and
shortened abdomens.
Indicators
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Appearance of brood.
In hives with high
varroa infestation,
uncapped larva will
appear slumped and
abandoned.
Uncapped larva will
probably not be fed
sufficiently and will, in
time, die. Visual
evidence of varroa
mites on uncapped
larva.
Honey Bee Medications
Medication
(see note)
Problem
Active
Ingredient
Advantages
Apistan
Varroa mite
Fluvalinate
Checkmite
Varroa mite
Coumaphos
ApiLifeVar
Varroa mite
Essential Oils
Natural Ingredients
No resistance. Also
proven to be
effective against
tracheal mites.
Mite-Away II
Varroa mite
Formic Acid
Apiguard
Varroa Mite
Thymol
Powdered Sugar
Varroa Mite
Powdered Sugar
American Foulbrood
European Foulbrood
American Foulbrood
European Foulbrood
Terramycin
(antibiotic)
Tylan
(antibiotic)
Vegetable
Shortening &
Crystal Sugar
Menthol
Terramycin
Tylan
Grease Patties
Tracheal mite
Menthol
Tracheal mite
Moth Crystals
Wax Moth
Para
dichlorobenzene
Checkmite
Small Hive Beetle
Coumaphos
Beetle Bait Station
Small Hive Beetle
Gardstar
Small hive beetle pupae
Permethrin
Easy to use
Also active against
tracheal mite and
chalk brood.
Natural Ingredients.
May be used to
reduce mite count in
spring w/ supers on.
Disadvantages
Comments
Mites are often resistant to
Apistan. Kills only varroa.
Harsh chemical.
Application: 5-6 weeks (2
strips per brood chamber)
Temperature Sensitive.
Time-consuming
application: (3 apps.
7-10 days apart).
Temperature Sensitive
(apply when daytime high
is between 50° and 78°).
Potentially dangerous to
honeybees.
Small hive beetles should be under control before using
this medication.
Use strictly as directed. Formic acid can kill honeybees.
Visit www.miteaway.com.
Thymol is a naturally occurring substance. No harmful
effects on colony. Extremely easy to use.
Must apply consistently,
three times per week for
three weeks.
Must be used in conjunction w/ screened bottom board
or no bottom board. Good emergency remedy for
reducing mite count.
Some resistance shown
AF best destroyed by fire. Severe mite infestation &
damage can simulate most of the foulbrood symptoms.
Expensive
Can leave in year
round.
More beetles with patties.
Works by masking odor of young bees from mite.
Temperature sensitive
Effective for treating
empty supers to
prevent moth
damage to drawn
comb.
Do not use in hives with
live bees.
Wax moth damage is the result of weak or declining
hives in late summer. Do not confuse moth crystals with
moth balls (naphthalene).
Not effective when strip is
placed in the cluster.
Harsh chemical.
Beetle traps (using Checkmite) developed by BJ-very
effective- more expensive than bait stations.
Very effective. Can
be used year round.
Developed by South
GA beekeepers.
Not an approved method.
Available from BJ. Kills adult beetles in the hive.
Kills pupae stage in
the soil.
Beetles have already
reproduced and destroyed
the bee colony.
Not a preventative. Use only after beetles have
reproduced. Use as a soil drench.
Medication Notes:
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Always follow manufacturers directions. If left in
too long, the treatment can encourage
resistance.
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Medications have different active ingredients and
work in different ways to control the pest and/or
disease.
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Using different products on a rotational basis may
be effective in reducing resistance.
Temperatures
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Maximum and
minimum outdoor
temperatures are
important when
choosing your
medication.
Using Apiguard
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Close screened
bottom board and any
other vent holes.
Maximum daily
temperature should be
between 60 and 105
degrees F.
Apiguard
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When using Apiguard
you must allow a ¼
inch spacing if you are
using the meta tin
container.
Otherwise, put the
medication onto a flat
cardboard covered
with foil and replace
inner and outer
covers.
Apiguard
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Apiguard in place.
Apiguard
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Before and after.
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What happened to my
honey super?
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I must keep an eye on
food supplies in the
brood chamber and
possibly feed before
treatment is finished
in weeks.
Small Hive Beetle
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A small hive beetle
running for her life.
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The answer to our
small hive beetle
prayers.
Foulbrood
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Applying Tylan.
Powdered Sugar Treatment
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A very good option,
especially during
colder months when
other miticides would
not be effective. Very
time consuming.
Pesky Wax Moths
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Keep an eye on your bees.
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If you know a hive has
died, IMMEDIATELY clean
it out and store your
equipment properly, or
else……
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Extensive wax moth
damage is caused by
neglecting to break down
hives that have died. You
could lose brood comb and
several supers with drawn
comb.
Mite Counting
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Screened bottom
board with reusable
metal slide.
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Solid bottom board
with disposable sticky
board.
Making it all worth while………