We're Mite Checking Wild Honey Bee Colonies
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2020
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For the better part of decade now I've been listening to people tout the absolute necessity of Varroa mite treatment with statements like "you will lose every hive unless you treat" or "your yard is nothing but a mite bomb for every other beekeeper. Without trying to sound like I don't believe there is a problem I will say that I believe the varroa mite problem (among non commercial beekeepers) is extremely over sold. It is so over sold that from what I see and hear both personally and through all forms of social media new beekeepers typically know more about chemically treating for varroa mites than they do about how to actually manage a honey bee colony.
I happened upon a beginner beekeeping class one afternoon last year when I went to pick up some supplies at a commercial bee yard. I had no knowledge that a class was being held and no intention of interrupting it once I saw but several of the participants were subscribers to this channel and wanted to say hi. I hung out with the group for a few minutes while they finished up their Q&A portion of the class. One person in particular had been peppering the instructor with every possible mite treatment scenario that they could think of to the point no one else was getting to ask questions. When they got to a particularly technical question that she couldn't answer the question was directed to me. I asked, Isn't this a "beginner" beekeeping class?. The student replied that it was. I asked if they had any bees yet. The student replied that they were picking up their first nucs that day. I said "you don't even HAVE any bees yet and they're already sick?. Learn proper hive management before you get a doctorate in pest control." My filter was broke that day so what came to mind just popped out of my mouth. My reply may have been a bit rough but I felt I made my point and maybe even pointed him in a different direction to make his beekeeping life a little easier.
While I don't generally chemically treat there are occasions when I find it preferable to the "all natural" methods I typically employ. Even though I believe it is good to know how to chemically treat there are many good chemical free alternatives. There are even cases where no treatment at all can work. The health and successful proliferation of feral colonies world wide would serve to prove my point as no one is treating them, obviously.
I have some theories about varroa that I haven't shared publicly and I can only back up my theories with data that no one has collected yet regarding feral bees and varroa . Since I see as many feral colonies each year as almost anyone else in the world I figure who better to collect the data I need. I plan to continue this study through 2020 or until the results I'm seeing disprove what I suspect. I will be sampling each swarm and feral colony I encounter this year as well as managed colonies in the same general areas for comparison's sake. Whatever my findings I'll share when I'm done even if my theory is bunk.
Stay tuned for lots more videos.
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The infrared camera I use is FLIR One Pro for ios amzn.to/2RSJtjN
These are the headphones I use for editing amzn.to/38NgHq8
This is the Bee Vac we used for this job www.allmybees.com/
Music - Fine With You Gone by Particle House 
Хобби
I love watching Dirt Rooster and his family. Some of the most genuinely nice people I have ever seen. It's like you were all born with a smile on your face.
I love watching and listening to you and your brother work. Have a great week!
Gonna bee interesting to see the mite counts in these cutouts as the year progresses.
That was probably one of the easiest removals I've seen y'all do yet. Thanks for sharing.
This is a really neat undertaking. I'm interested to see what kind of data you come up with this year!
You don't even know what all I'm tracking Willie.
@@628DirtRooster the coronavirus in Wuhan?
I'd be willing to bet the feral hives will show less mite counts than commercial beekeepers.
@@628DirtRooster Oh, "ode to the haters".
@@bdanza Get your Flu on in Wuhan!!....Woo-hoo!
"I SPIT HOT FIYA!"
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
You never cease to amaze me (or entertain me), Randy.
Great video and I can’t wait to get ours later this year! Hopefully we have great luck with what we have learned from watching these videos!
This was a good video with so much info. Loved the music with the stills too. Good job editing.
Great work! Thank your for your TLC 💕💕💕🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
GREAT video Randy!! Nice clear, crisp, close up shots. Just gotta LOVE those comfortable mid-60 degree afternoons!! I LOVE watching you work with family!! Keep 'em coming brother!! ✌️🐝🐝🐝
If it could only stay this temp year round. Thanks for the nice comment Tim.
You can use water and dish soap instead of alcohol in your mite wash. That's what the Bee Lab in Baton Rouge uses.
LOVE the idea, love that you're collecting data regardless of expectations. Hope you're consulting with USDA varroa folks to see if your data can help them too.
Love the 'frame it complete with bees' technique. Looked very peaceful. :)
Love it when you two work together!!
Glad you are looking at varoa in feral colonies. It seems the feral colonies are on the rise again in the Ozarks. Some thing good is happening.
Likely thoose bees are evolving resistance to varroa.
Thanks rooster for the fun video you always crack me up with your wit...
thank you for the very great to watch clips once again
Read your video description and can't agree more. Varroa is serious, but nuking a hive with treatments while lacking general honeybee husbandry skills is a surefire way to kill bees.
Great content as always!
RUclips recommended your channel the same week hundreds of commerical bee boxes were delivered at the orchards around my house last month. It was probably because I Googled "bee repellent". I live and work on a poultry farm and bees love the feed as much as the birds do. I get stung pretty often from accidentally smashing bees that I didn't realize landed on me. I bought a few of the camo veils from Amazon for when working around feed. I figured if they're good enough for you they're good enough for me. Thanks for the great content! Subscribed and watching past videos.
I was just watching another video about the mite and mushrooms and I was wandering what you did, when your video popped up..lol I do not use any chemicals in any of my hives as well. I also hang up swarm traps and get "free bees". Currently looking to switch over to a few Lazutin hives and see how they work out. Glad and grateful your keeping track of this keep up the good work!
Anybody looking at the "2 hour 107 degree F heat treatment" treatment? A guy in South Carolina is in production of a commercial unit to treat mites? He says 85-90% mite kill and claims that it kills tracheal mites and Small Hive Beatles at no additional cost.
Great job again like always
Rooster. Yes! You mite be right. Folks mite want to understand the basics of beekeeping and mite want to get a handle on taking care of their bees before they mite be concerned about varroa mites........Mite you agree? As always. Thanks for the video. Always helpful God bless
Up north you have to take care of mites or you have no bees.
Yall made it look easy
OMG! A slant glass Monte Carlo SS! I often thought that about feral bees! No one treats them or manages them and they survive and often thrive as you show in your removals.
There must be some truth to the orange shirt. I watched the whole video while wearing a orange shirt and didn't get a single sting.
And knowing some of your bees that was a real possibility. lol
Y'all do good work!
...I haven’t broke a sweat yet....that’s because you got someone else to going up and down the ladder. I love watching your videos.
you both done a great job...
Hate I missed this one I would of made the trip to Hattiesburg!!! Lol love you videos keep em coming
Great description.
Sounded real edumacated didn't it?
That’s the way I am if I’m outside and it’s warmish I’ll be sweating if not something is wrong great video Rooster 🐓 and your brother to GOD BLESS
You'll have to watch out that the old fellow who pulled up in the chair and watched. He may start a bee removal crew of his own. I've watched you and Mr. Ed take out a bunch of bees and even though have no idea of ever having them I enjoy watching you guys and the bees as they work to build their combs and collect the stuff to fill them up. Seeing some of the stings takes me back to when us kids went bare footed and got stung a time or two. Keep it up guys, Greg.
I think this is a great idea. There's nothing like gathering the data yourself.
Thank you for this video. I always wondered about the mite load on the bees from these removal. It will be interesting to know your long at the end of the season, if you do the check on all of your removal. Thanks again.
You got that one right..... when all else fails, read the instructions.
Keep smiling.
You can most certainly tell you guys are brothers. Great video
Great video thanks 👌🤙🏿🐝🐝🍯
OOh OOh , for standing on ladders comfortably and safely . Cut out a foot-size shadow form using your shoe L and R as template . Just a tiny bit oversize to cut holes or strap apertures . Add rope or straps as appropriate and a heel to stop any slides . Might look funky but hey comfort over panache everytime !!
awesome!..thanks for posting ... >>>> i enjoy them!
Seeing the green pollen reminds me of when I was at Perk, there was a little old lady who’s bees produced purple honey.
They do in very small quantities in the spring.
I agree with you on the Mite issue..though up here in the Pacific Northwest the mites are Definitely a problem. I have gone from the traditional hard chemicals to organic methods, which seems to work extremely well.
That being said...I agree with learning how to properly manage your bees first, and not to get so caught up in the hipe.
Good stuff.
As always you and your people are very entertaining
Hey Randy, long term subscriber and I'm actually doing a PhD on honeybee genetics. I'm looking into Varroa resistant colonies surviving in the wild. It's my belief that wild bees are allowed to develop resistance to the mite because they are not helped by treatments and so have to fight off the mites on their own, but I have to prove this.
I'd be really interested in working with you and discussing your findings!
I do know that Europe has a more dangerous type of DWV which is transmitted to the bee by varroa mites. Hopefully this type of the virus does not reach America.
"....where hobby bee-keeping is a way of life....."
That's going to be a hell of an interesting study. Whatever your results, you should seriously consider publishing. There's no such thing as too much data.
Long time viewer of your videos. There is always something to learn. Had a brain fart while sitting here watching this one... You could auction off these feral colonies that you pull from these places. Might be kinda fun for a viewer to get one from you.
looks like a good time!
You plan on doing any this year?
@@628DirtRooster I reckon we'll see. may have to come down there and bug you on another one haha
@@linuxman51 That's fine.
Hey DirtRooster. That was one bullseye of a point you made about feral colonies and mites. I'm betting your theory is right. Meanwhile it's fun to watch you and your brother working together. Thank you for sharing and see you soon.
I'm looking forward to seeing the results over the year.
@@628DirtRooster Me too.
I know nothing about mites or diff but I like watching the videos
Thanks for the views George.
I have cousins that lived in Hattiesburg and in Purvis. Their last name was Dudly.
They may know Tommy
You should check the bees in the vac vs the bees that were not vacuumed. The vacuum has a screen that the mites could fall through and the bees cant. If there is a contestant difference you could get rid of mites by vacuuming all the bees in a colony. The mite lava would still be there but the adults would be reduced.
Nice vid as always..wish it was in the 60's here in Minnesota...i suppose a guy(me)should already know but i dont have a clue.. where do bees go in the winter when its cold??..thanks love your channel
The do not go anywhere. They cluster. That is they get in to a ball shape in the hive to share heat. As the bees on the out side get cold they move to the middle and get warm and the heat generated from the cluster keeps the inside of the hive a lot warmer then the outside temp. A large enough cluster will keep the inside of the hive above freezing in ‐40 degree temps.
Hope this helps you understand
In the 50's old doctor prescribed honey w/comb for me I had BAD allergies. Almost DIED. He prescribe 2 to 4 teaspoon's of local honey not homogenized. Cured allergies only problem I have today is pollution. And I am 63 today.
Wing King is awesome, we have one down here, and I think Pineapple Habanero is the best dipping sauce
You seem to have such a nice familly :)
good on you for doing the mite checks. Mr. Ed, you getting this?
Liked that music at the end
They’re always after me Lucky Charms😂🤣
You were in good company with Tommy! He probably has the love for bacon like you do but maybe a slightly smaller quantity, maybe. GOOD DEAL on the mite hunting. My old picking buddy was always talking about them and how much it was costing to treat for them. He had over 200 hives and if he hit them all it'd be a nice chunk of change. You did good about the class comment too. Keep after it, Pal! Mr. Ed needs more technical data for his classes, HA!
Need some long arms for those back combs. That’s a cool alcohol washer. I mite have to get one of those. 🤪 Nice still shots...........looser! 😂 Didn’t see any Canon cripple hammers after the Fuji. That’s a good thing.
Sony help me. I need a micro four sixths and a baby pineapple. Darn you with your ten bit recording with the blurry background!
Good! 🐝🍯👍
The mite-bomb mantra is heavy among any new-beek classes or honey producer publications I've run across. Sure, it's a short term gain to treat for mites, but in my opinion a long term loss. I'm interested to know what you find! (6yr hobby keep with dead treated and untreated bees and live hygienic bees for what it's worth)
Starting @10:08 - is that a small hive beetle on the back of his neck? Thanks for sharing!
I find it fascinating that you’re doing this study. There aren’t many that are out seeing bees as often as you so you are the perfect person. I’m curious though what your opinions are about the mysterious “colony collapse disorder”. Is it something you’ve seen in your hives?
Sounds like a name used when the real reason isn't known
Reg Whelan I’ve thought the same which is why I put it in quotes like that and said the mysterious. I guess I didn’t make my sarcasm clear enough. The dangers of the written word.
12 mites that' horrible, you gotta treat them girls they got the dose
You have to try some northern beekeeping 15 below yesterday morning, this morning 20 above and this is mild weather up here. We are just hoping to be able to open up our hives at the end of March.
I bet I'd have to wear a wind breaker.
@@628DirtRooster Not really, I go barefoot in this nice weather.
@@danschneider9219 LOL
Smart.
what veil is that your wearing while doing the mite check?
Greeeen pollen!
I wasn't game to ask about that one?
While the mites ARE a legitimate concern, there are a 101 other worries to have BEFORE the first new hive hits your yard. The mite issue is just ONE problem on the list. To make it the BEE all end all, ;) is a bit silly. Keeping track like you seem to be doing this year is a good idea. Good luck!
Mites ARE the mayor concern and mite ARE the ones that are causing at least 41 more concerns in bee keeping.
Control mites and you have a very good chance to keep your bees.
Nice, Dylan definitely spits hot fire
You know he does!
Fantastic Idea. Shouldn't the sample of bees be taken from a section of brood? Still I say just do it the way you did it, fascinating to see the results!
I never saw your brother saw the thumbnail and just thought you got real skinny real quick.
The miracle weight loss plan...
Funny thing is my wife asked the same thing!!!!
@@sometimesitjustbeesthatway3070 Tell her it's like keto but with cake.
@@628DirtRooster Weight loss plan called "cancer".
@@chipfriday9967
Oh. Bummer.
Hey Randy, I also use "natural" methods to treat due to my concern with the unknown impacts of chemical treatment on hive ecology (and have been chided for it), so I was really curious about the data you gathered and any conclusions or at least ideas that came from this study you are doing. Any updates on this? Thanks
As someone on the edge of Bee Keeping(been around it, don’t do it) I think you are right, I know ones who treat with lots of chemicals and ones who use little. It will be very interesting to see what you find out in the feral hives
Kind of makes you question when treatment free beats treating many times.
628DirtRooster Bees true. And a small load of pest is like being exposed to germs, without the exposure there isn’t any resistance, so I would think a small load would help keep the hive healthy since it would increase the resistance, just need to find the balance
Mary-Ruth Flores treatment free is the only way to bee keep. If you want sustainable bees.
Son Rise Apiaries but if there isn’t a small load of pest then resistant isn’t being developed. Look at cotton and the boll w. Thru decades of poison, resistance was bread out, they are just now getting the cotton back to the levels of the ‘20s
Mary-Ruth Flores your saying there are no pests in treatment free hives?
I want to see the lay-out of the oxalic acid vaporizer he was making. They say they are relatively easy to make with an ole glow plug and I need to make one, always looking for better ideais
Sure wish you would make a video on how you transition the cut outs onto foundation frames!! :)
You can see in the video where the brood comb is mounted into frames using no 64 rubber bands. You just need to remember to locate the comb in the same orientation as it was found in the hive. As a hint cells on either side of the center of the comb both point upward so as to hold nectar until the cells are dehydrated and capped.
@@RegWhelan we are located in deep south Texas. Rubber band melts way to fast. We use hardware cloth spikes but the State inspection does not permit for long. Need to transfer to foundation frames because wax without foundation WILL MELT!!! thanks anyway!
Blue windshield wash works in the mite check😎😎😎
Does this count for a cut-out against Mr Ed if you aren’t on the ladder? I love seeing this work.
Hey man. You missed your traditional intro! "... Where beekeeping is a waaay of life". Cheers from down south.
Hey Marco. I'll have to do it up extra next time. lol
Homey copped him a ringside seat. Bless it.
You must be from the south.
@@628DirtRooster yep. I grew up way north of you in Alcorn County, but I was in your area for a lot of years. I was working for the city when Gulfport annexed Orange Grove in 93 I guess, maybe 94. Lived in Ocean Springs for a while. Then I was in New Orleans for a while. Ive been on the worst coast going on 25 years now and thats part of the reason I'm so glad i found your channel. Not only is it interesting as hell, but it connects me back to home. I can smell the loblolly and the beach. I appreciate your effort.
i want that monte Carlo
So what do you do about the mites?
1st colony of the year.
translation: "Mr. Ed is already ahead in this year swarm catch"
:P
He's ahead on cut outs but I don't think he has a swarm yet.
He's ahead on cut outs but I don't think he has a swarm yet.
That oldtimer was not impressed with the honey, lol. Two licks and he gave it back .. heh
Awesome experiment your going to do. Will you treat hives with high more loads immediately
I want to track how they do through the year with noting but drone trapping and brood breaks.
Great video. I did not know about mites on bees. I have dealt with them while I was into raising snakes. Is there a way to control them when you get a Farrell colony of bees? Also did you ever find the queen?? Lol
If you got 12 mites per 300 bees you're looking at about 4% mite load, up here where we get winter that hive wouldn't make it.
That. Is what I was thinking too. I wonder if his comment was that as it being a wild hive as apposed to it being a managed hive 12 mites was not bad.
@@stevewelches1955 Maybe because they don't get 30 below temps that is not a lethal mite load.
Will the mite count(s) be included in every future video until you've concluded the sampling period?
Probably not
You and your brother are having wayyyyyy to much fun Bro..... LOL
We'll have to take you to Wing King one day.
@@628DirtRooster :)
How do you treat for mites.
What is Brood Comb vs other types of combs you are talking about?
Hey Rooster 🐓 and your brother to
What did you do to keep another group of bees from coming to that spot in the house?
Proper exterior repairs
Will the bees secure the comb to the frame before they cut the rubber bands?
Yes
It'll be interesting to see the seasons results. Are you doing your own colonies as well?
Mine and other people's
@@628DirtRooster I've always wondered about feral colonies; how long they survived or, maybe if they possibly built up an immunity.
How about a video on that DIY vaporizer? Or at least a few more details on what you are using.
I'll see what he's got done next time I'm up there.
Yeah I want to see that also
Loved the colony removal. Great idea to check for mites. What brand of mite testing container are you using? I'd love to get one of those.
Easycheck from Mann Lake
Wow, its a rare find when the Rooster posts a video framing up brood with bees still on it. That's a JP move. I usually catch Ya suckin' Em' all up Mr. Ed style;) Yeah, I know... time is of the essence. Curio though. What's it mean when those girls squeeze their hind legs together & twirl their tails in the air? Anybody figure that out LOL.
Self-grooming, or “autogrooming,” enables bees to remove ectoparasites, dust, and pollen from their own bodies and helps disperse pheromones (Boecking & Spivak, 1999).
✌️🐝🐝🐝
Oh. You were talking about THOSE girls. Not the ones at the mall.
Enjoy exchanges between you and mr ed. What do you think of horizontal hives?
There seems to be some sort of a problem in areas that ice over. The queen seems to get trapped in a small number of workers and they seem to die.
Randy what does 628 Dirt rooster stand for? love your videos keep them coming and i think 12 mites in a wash is high hopefully you treated them.
It was a dirt bike. That was what his channel was originally going to be about.
@@GrimKeeper9011 Thanks always wondered