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Varroa
mites are parasitic and feed on the bodily fluids of adult bees, pupae
and larvae. One type resides in the bee’s trachea. The second type
reveals itself as a small red or brown spot on the thorax, suffocating
the bee. Mites also transmit viruses.
There are several
commercial products available. Formic acid gel packs, sold as “Mite
Away” can help kill Varroa mites, as well as Apistan and Check Mite.
However, these products have limited impact if the bees are not hungry.
Ron
Augustine, who operates an apiary in Woodlands, has experimented with
essence oils, such as peppermint, wintergreen and cinnamon. He soaks a
small cotton ball in a 50-50 mixture of cooking oil and one of the
essence oils and places it in a bottle cork. He puts the cork at the
entrance or the centre of the hive, and has found this kills the mites.
Local
experiments in breaking the reproductive cycle of the Varroa also
include mixing nutmeg oil or eucalyptus oil in the sugar water syrup,
at a ratio of 1 ml of oil to 1 litre of syrup. The ratio for the syrup
is 1 pound of sugar to 1 litre of water.
Several beekeepers have
observed that the mite infestation has increased post Ivan, and they
believe the loss of nutmeg and cinnamon trees is related to the
increased mite population.
Adult Wax moths are about
three-quarters of an inch long and are grey brown. They lay their eggs
on unprotected honey combs and in the cracks between the hive bodies of
colonies. Their grayish- white larvae feed on cocoons, eat skin and
pollen; reducing combs to a mass of webs and waste products. Destroyed
combs can contaminate stored honey and may kill the bee larvae. Wax
moths are not normally a problem in strong healthy hives.
Foulbrood
is caused by bacteria of which there are several types. American
Foulbrood is the most infectious and deadly. Foulbrood affects the bee
larvae, which often darken and die, leaving sunken capped cells.
Foulbrood affected hives have a characteristic odor which an
experienced beekeeper can detect once the hives are opened. Dipping the
affected hive parts in sodium hypochlorite solution (bleach) will kill
foulbrood spores.
Chalkbrood is a fungal disease that affects
the gut of the larvae causing it to starve. Affected larvae have a
chalk white appearance. This disease is detected in hives under stress.
The stress can be alleviated by increasing ventilation through the hive
and/or introducing a new queen. |
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