Difference between revisions of "Spring treatment"

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(Created page with "The purpose of the winter to spring inspection is to quickly determine if all is well. The hives should not be opened for long, since the cooling down of brood can lead to str...")
 
 
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The purpose of the winter to spring inspection is to quickly determine if all is well. The hives should not be opened for long, since the cooling down of brood can lead to stress and subsequently to disease. Also there is a risk that the queen may be balled and die (''Link needed for balling queen'').  
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After the [[cleansing flight]] it should be evaluated if the colony needs to be treated for Varroa. To find out if the colony needs to be treated, count the number of dead mites on the bottom board over 7 to 10 days. If you find more than an average of 1 mite per day you should consider treating the colony.
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Treatment options:
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* [[Oxalic acid treatment|Oxalic acid]]. Trickling of 4ml 3.2% per fully occupied beeway{{#info: A beeway is the space between the combs in a hive. | <icon> }} on adult bees.
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* Formic acid treatment. Recommended every 3 years to also treat for tracheal mite.  Please note that formic acid can kill brood or even adult bees at higher temperatures.
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* [[Drone brood removal]] in late spring and the beginning of the summer season. Nordic brown bees usually produce fewer drones compared to other bees and drone removal is usually not done in breeding colonies. Drone brood removal is effective in removing reproducing mites, which also helps controlling  the number of mites later in the season.
  
Hence the main two signs to note are:
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[[Category:Varroa]]
 
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[[Category:Spring]]
#Is there enough food in the colony to survive the coming weeks?<br />If not, provide food in form of a small portion of warm sugar candy placed over the bees to conserve their heat.
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#Is there worker brood in the center of the frames? <br />If there is, the queen is present and the colony will develop well. If not, then the colony is in trouble and it is best find to another colony to combine it with; preferably a weak colony.
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Latest revision as of 14:26, 2 November 2016

After the cleansing flight it should be evaluated if the colony needs to be treated for Varroa. To find out if the colony needs to be treated, count the number of dead mites on the bottom board over 7 to 10 days. If you find more than an average of 1 mite per day you should consider treating the colony. Treatment options:

  • Oxalic acid. Trickling of 4ml 3.2% per fully occupied beeway
    A beeway is the space between the combs in a hive.
    on adult bees.
  • Formic acid treatment. Recommended every 3 years to also treat for tracheal mite. Please note that formic acid can kill brood or even adult bees at higher temperatures.
  • Drone brood removal in late spring and the beginning of the summer season. Nordic brown bees usually produce fewer drones compared to other bees and drone removal is usually not done in breeding colonies. Drone brood removal is effective in removing reproducing mites, which also helps controlling the number of mites later in the season.