We treated with Apivar in March but most recent mite count drop (july 4th) in 24 h is about 4. Have not harvested honey as yet (will be doing so soon) but once we do, is it too early to start Varroa treatment? Also bees are on a deep national BB which we'd like them to overwinter in but it just seems like we should leave a super on (and keep it for the bees only) if we do such an early treatment. Any suggestions?
My varroa was very high this year, I had to make an urgent decision to treat with a single pack of MAQS per colony in the first week of August, very noticeable phoretic mites, capping holes, DWV. They were rampant. Thankfully it's done the trick, supers are off and there is no evidence of varroa at all now. I'm going to treat with another single pack of MAQS when the brood frames have condensed. Absolutely zero need to feed right now, since the rain in Herts there's a mini flow on, in 4 weeks I can rely on the Ivy which is plentiful here, a bit of invert towards the start of October and thats another year done!
I was surprised by the Mite load and drop after just 24 hours of applying Apivar Strips on the main hive. My Nucleus has had a very long brood break due to supersedure and has very low levels. The only brood problems has been a bad case of Chalkbrood, hence the Bees decided to change her out. So I have treated early with a mind to apply Oxalic in November.
@@BlackMountainHoney The Hives are in sunlight most of the day although Scotland's weather has been fickle, thankfully the Bees in the NUC removed infected larvae and removed them from the bottom board and frames. There has not been any other problems since then, they sensed that the Queen wasn't quite on the ball. Its been a valuable lesson. The supersedure Queen emerged, flew out and did not return. The colony is pretty strong, I did add a frame of brood from my main hive - it was wall to wall capped brood, a fantastic pattern, it is no surprise as the main hive Queen is an absolute cracker and has been hugely industrious. Since then I have merged them back into the Queen Elizabeth Hive, the boost will be useful this time of year.
Had a huge varroa count on my massive colony. Pulled the boxes last week and went on with the Apiguard. They were treated with Apivar by me last year, and I think by you the before when they were a nuc. My big problem with taking it off early is not that I am being greedy and want the honey, it's just that I want them to finish the frames as I no where to keep tonnes of half finished super frames. Will be pulling the rest of the supers tomorrow or Saturday depending on weather. Hoping balsam will keep them going for a few weeks yet.
Thanks Lawrence, started my Apiguard 1 week ago, but still not certain if I should overwinter just with the National brood box plus a big slab of fondant, or to leave the super on, I guess I can assess this in a month or so (I won't be using the honey in the super frames for human use in any event)
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We treated with Apivar in March but most recent mite count drop (july 4th) in 24 h is about 4. Have not harvested honey as yet (will be doing so soon) but once we do, is it too early to start Varroa treatment? Also bees are on a deep national BB which we'd like them to overwinter in but it just seems like we should leave a super on (and keep it for the bees only) if we do such an early treatment. Any suggestions?
My varroa was very high this year, I had to make an urgent decision to treat with a single pack of MAQS per colony in the first week of August, very noticeable phoretic mites, capping holes, DWV. They were rampant. Thankfully it's done the trick, supers are off and there is no evidence of varroa at all now. I'm going to treat with another single pack of MAQS when the brood frames have condensed. Absolutely zero need to feed right now, since the rain in Herts there's a mini flow on, in 4 weeks I can rely on the Ivy which is plentiful here, a bit of invert towards the start of October and thats another year done!
Sounds like they are motoring on! Definitely not going to need anywhere near as much feed this year, which is a bonus.
I was surprised by the Mite load and drop after just 24 hours of applying Apivar Strips on the main hive. My Nucleus has had a very long brood break due to supersedure and has very low levels. The only brood problems has been a bad case of Chalkbrood, hence the Bees decided to change her out. So I have treated early with a mind to apply Oxalic in November.
Early treatments back a world of difference. Chalk brood can be climatic though. Are they getting good airflow and sunlight on the hive?
@@BlackMountainHoney The Hives are in sunlight most of the day although Scotland's weather has been fickle, thankfully the Bees in the NUC removed infected larvae and removed them from the bottom board and frames. There has not been any other problems since then, they sensed that the Queen wasn't quite on the ball. Its been a valuable lesson. The supersedure Queen emerged, flew out and did not return. The colony is pretty strong, I did add a frame of brood from my main hive - it was wall to wall capped brood, a fantastic pattern, it is no surprise as the main hive Queen is an absolute cracker and has been hugely industrious. Since then I have merged them back into the Queen Elizabeth Hive, the boost will be useful this time of year.
Had a huge varroa count on my massive colony. Pulled the boxes last week and went on with the Apiguard. They were treated with Apivar by me last year, and I think by you the before when they were a nuc. My big problem with taking it off early is not that I am being greedy and want the honey, it's just that I want them to finish the frames as I no where to keep tonnes of half finished super frames. Will be pulling the rest of the supers tomorrow or Saturday depending on weather. Hoping balsam will keep them going for a few weeks yet.
Simple answer Aaron. Don't put so many supers on 😉
@@BlackMountainHoney haha! Tell your queens that! This hive had double brood and 5 supers and they were still bursting out the top :)
@@MrAaroncornish Nice! 😀
i try to take my honey off by end of july then give treatments first week of august
Thanks Lawrence, started my Apiguard 1 week ago, but still not certain if I should overwinter just with the National brood box plus a big slab of fondant, or to leave the super on, I guess I can assess this in a month or so (I won't be using the honey in the super frames for human use in any event)
Do you have the super on with the apiguard on?
There is a super on with uncapped honey, but I will not extract this.
@@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801 That one will definitely need to be left on indefinitely now as it will be tainted by the thymol based apiguard
@@BlackMountainHoney Thanks so much.