Very good video, you sure nailed this one. I did the Randy Oliver method of shacking a brood frame in to a dish pan (plastic container) scooped them into the shaker and did the alcohol wash. Thank you for your dedication to your videos ! You have been instrumental in helping me build up my sideline project of beekeeping. The more I work with the bees the more I love it ! There is just something about this business. I find myself driving around looking at the vegetation and noticing thing that I would never have given a second look. Not all roses, but still making great progress, I had a bee invasion of my honey house and it took me a few days to figger out what was going on. There was a small leak or enter point into the building. Where the wall plate meets the concrete floor there was light entering the building or an access point for hunger bees. I finally seen the bees gathering around the access point. Got the chalking gun out and a few days later all was well. These little bugs are very persistent when they get on the scent of honey LOL !
Is American Foulbrood as devastating a disease that our beekeeping laws seem to portray. I have heard, and you confirmed, that a certain level of Foulbrood spores exists everywhere. I had a colony succumb to the disease two years ago. It so happened that it was a colony that was hit hard by skunks. I'm thinking that the colony lost so much of its resources that it couldn't do a good job of housecleaning. It's as if the colony became queenless. My thinking is a good, strong, hygienic colony will overcome most any level of spore exposure, but I'd like the opinion of someone who really knows something about bees! Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated. And not to inflate your ego too much, I've found your blog to be the most valuable beekeeping blog on the net. You are truly appreciated. God Bless.
Only seeing a few mites this year... did a OA treament Saturday only seen 3 or 4 on the sticky boards per hive .. July treament was less than 1 mite per hive ... last year was a different story they were bad really bad had hundreds falling out after treatment
Here in new Brunswick we don't only have varoa mites. We are also gifted with the Irving mites spraying all the forest they cut down. Is there a test and treatment for them. Save the bees and our wild life
nutrition..., dont open them on cold days. Rain wet and cold promote chalkbrood especially if it induces mal nutrition. Breed within you own apiary, dont import from other operations.... but easier said than done. All in all, take the lumps. there is not much we can actually do
I wonder if you are missing a few mites here and there due to your shake method? I would think swirling the bees at the bottom of the screen with the alcohol immersed around them would more accurate? That way they would continually be forced down by motion and gravity for the minute that your agitate them. With your current method, when the jar is quickly turned over, maybe they get hung up in the mass of bees and don't fall though. Just some food for thought.
Maybe found here: scientificbeekeeping.com/a-test-of-using-co2-for-bee-friendly-mite-monitoring/ "An alternative is the powdered sugar shake, which, if done properly, can result in over 70% recovery of the mites, and although involving rather brutal abuse of the bees (especially in hot weather), may not injure them too badly. But be aware that the poor rate of recovery attained by a less than perfectly-performed sugar shake can result in missing a serious infestation (I see this happen frequently), plus the amount of hard shaking required is tough on the arm (tip: use a plastic jar)."
What's your opinion on just knowing timing, that this time of year you know your going to need do treat. So instead of monitoring, just going prophylactic?
I do this with my spring treatment and late late fall vapour, but it is essential that we know where the mite levels are at at these critical times to ensure we dont get caught un aware and make bad decissions
Ian, i started out with 4 colonies in the spring. They've grown into 2 boxes. I'm about to harvest. I want to get them into to a single hive bodies for winter. After harvest I plan to funnel them into the bottom box, put on an excluder and let the top box hatch out. At what point do you transition your first year colonies over to single hive management?
petersboro If I were you, and if you wAnt to manage single, Id winter in 2 boxes and transform your spring summer strategy towards single to capitalize on the system
Yes, adopt and use them. You make a very convincing argument in favour of using the diagnostic tools that are available to beekeepers and for encouraging participation by the beekeeping community especially, as you recommend, the midtier sideline/parttime producers.The resources you mentioned today: 1./ Randy Oliver: scientificbeekeeping.com/how-to-perform-an-alcohol-wash/ ruclips.net/video/oiu_dIZu7Uk/видео.html Randy mite wash video 2018 Ian have you seen this one - scientificbeekeeping.com/a-test-of-using-co2-for-bee-friendly-mite-monitoring/ 2./ National Bee Diagnostic Centre, Beaverlodge, Alberta www.gprc.ab.ca/research/initiatives/nbdc/expansion.html
Why don't you use all the mass of bees in front of the hives to produce artifical swarms with laying queens? It's a great pity. Is it not enough time for those swarms to still build up a winterable colony in Manitoba? I'm sure many beekeepers in Germany incl. myself would do so.
Ian, one of the best and informative videos you’ve ever done!! I hope everyone shares your sentiments! We all must monitor our notes!
A great video!!
A big thanks for taking the time to share your lessons learned, kudos to ya!
Very good video, you sure nailed this one. I did the Randy Oliver method of shacking a brood frame in to a dish pan (plastic container) scooped them into the shaker and did the alcohol wash. Thank you for your dedication to your videos ! You have been instrumental in helping me build up my sideline project of beekeeping. The more I work with the bees the more I love it ! There is just something about this business. I find myself driving around looking at the vegetation and noticing thing that I would never have given a second look. Not all roses, but still making great progress, I had a bee invasion of my honey house and it took me a few days to figger out what was going on. There was a small leak or enter point into the building. Where the wall plate meets the concrete floor there was light entering the building or an access point for hunger bees. I finally seen the bees gathering around the access point. Got the chalking gun out and a few days later all was well. These little bugs are very persistent when they get on the scent of honey LOL !
Critical and timely message Ian. Thanks for putting this video up.
I enjoy your commentary and insight. Thanks for sharing . Keep the video's coming Ian.
We need more videos like this, facing the issue head on. Well done and thankya.
Is American Foulbrood as devastating a disease that our beekeeping laws seem to portray. I have heard, and you confirmed, that a certain level of Foulbrood spores exists everywhere. I had a colony succumb to the disease two years ago. It so happened that it was a colony that was hit hard by skunks. I'm thinking that the colony lost so much of its resources that it couldn't do a good job of housecleaning. It's as if the colony became queenless. My thinking is a good, strong, hygienic colony will overcome most any level of spore exposure, but I'd like the opinion of someone who really knows something about bees! Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
And not to inflate your ego too much, I've found your blog to be the most valuable beekeeping blog on the net. You are truly appreciated. God Bless.
Great video!
Thank you for this! Finding myself in that sidelining category I know this is something I need to improve on. Keep the content coming!
Only seeing a few mites this year... did a OA treament Saturday only seen 3 or 4 on the sticky boards per hive .. July treament was less than 1 mite per hive ... last year was a different story they were bad really bad had hundreds falling out after treatment
Thank you as always for the info
Ian great information very practical brilliant !!
Here in new Brunswick we don't only have varoa mites. We are also gifted with the Irving mites spraying all the forest they cut down. Is there a test and treatment for them. Save the bees and our wild life
Great vid thanks for sharing.
How many places migration your bee in years??And nice information.
What is the water in the box where you put the bees and what do you process, I would appreciate if you tell me what is the purpose
Videolar çok güzel.Lutfen altyazılı hazırlar mısınız.
Please let us know how to deal with Chalk Brood in your hives.
nutrition..., dont open them on cold days. Rain wet and cold promote chalkbrood especially if it induces mal nutrition. Breed within you own apiary, dont import from other operations.... but easier said than done.
All in all, take the lumps. there is not much we can actually do
great video
I wonder if you are missing a few mites here and there due to your shake method? I would think swirling the bees at the bottom of the screen with the alcohol immersed around them would more accurate? That way they would continually be forced down by motion and gravity for the minute that your agitate them. With your current method, when the jar is quickly turned over, maybe they get hung up in the mass of bees and don't fall though. Just some food for thought.
What size of scoop are you using ? 1/2 cup?
Which other disease we need also to check ? Can you show us also how to do it ?
Solid outlook on mite problem....but
Why do you choose to not use the count method with sugar instead of the lethal alcohol method ?
Maybe found here: scientificbeekeeping.com/a-test-of-using-co2-for-bee-friendly-mite-monitoring/
"An alternative is the powdered sugar shake, which, if done properly, can result in over 70% recovery of the mites, and although involving rather brutal abuse of the bees (especially in hot weather), may not injure them too badly. But be aware that the poor rate of recovery attained by a less than perfectly-performed sugar shake can result in missing a serious infestation (I see this happen frequently), plus the amount of hard shaking required is tough on the arm (tip: use a plastic jar)."
What percentage of hives do you sample in every yard? Sorry if I missed it.
Yep need to do mite counts!
What's your opinion on just knowing timing, that this time of year you know your going to need do treat. So instead of monitoring, just going prophylactic?
I do this with my spring treatment and late late fall vapour, but it is essential that we know where the mite levels are at at these critical times to ensure we dont get caught un aware and make bad decissions
How many rounds you treat your hives with OA?
Ian, i started out with 4 colonies in the spring. They've grown into 2 boxes. I'm about to harvest. I want to get them into to a single hive bodies for winter. After harvest I plan to funnel them into the bottom box, put on an excluder and let the top box hatch out. At what point do you transition your first year colonies over to single hive management?
petersboro
If I were you, and if you wAnt to manage single,
Id winter in 2 boxes and transform your spring summer strategy towards single to capitalize on the system
Will do. Thanks.
Maybe a silly question, but is there no danger of getting the queen when getting bees off of bottom bars (especially with vacuum)?
rugged girl yes for sure
Yes, adopt and use them.
You make a very convincing argument in favour of using the diagnostic tools that are available to beekeepers and for encouraging participation by the beekeeping community especially, as you recommend, the midtier sideline/parttime producers.The resources you mentioned today:
1./ Randy Oliver: scientificbeekeeping.com/how-to-perform-an-alcohol-wash/
ruclips.net/video/oiu_dIZu7Uk/видео.html
Randy mite wash video 2018
Ian have you seen this one - scientificbeekeeping.com/a-test-of-using-co2-for-bee-friendly-mite-monitoring/
2./ National Bee Diagnostic Centre, Beaverlodge, Alberta www.gprc.ab.ca/research/initiatives/nbdc/expansion.html
Why don't you use all the mass of bees in front of the hives to produce artifical swarms with laying queens? It's a great pity. Is it not enough time for those swarms to still build up a winterable colony in Manitoba?
I'm sure many beekeepers in Germany incl. myself would do so.
Where is that mite shaker for sale at in the us?
I wish I had a dollar every time he forgot his smoke!
What do you do to prevent swarming if anything when you get all of the bees crowded into a single box.
William Cottrell
No issue with swarming this late , here
That what was wondering, with a box that not even can accommodated bees anymore, how come they don't swarm?? Thanks for another awesome video.
Sandro Camargo
It’s our seasonally management, all eyes on winter
Ian I might have missed it but if you had a higher count and needed to treat at this time what would you have treated with?
I saw in another his video, that he put another strip of Apivar this time of year
Hi Ian. I have question about treatments against mite. How do you think about Formic acid? give some advice about formic acid. Thanks
Formic Acid is a very good treatment of varrora mites. We are useing formic Acid 1 ml / frame in half whisper pad 3 times in a month.
do mite boards work
Do the same with powdered sugar.
You treat for varroa with ???
You might kill the queen with these methods
Anachronismo yep