Bruce Kemp wrote:
> I'm new to the list. There seems to be quite a few of us. I have
> been into bees for a year now and live in Virginia in the USA. I
> understand there is quite a varroa mite problem here they carry a
> virus that has wiped out most of the hives around here...
>
> So to summarize my questions:
>
> 1. Is the virus wide-spread?
> 2. Do other things cause the virus besides varroa?
> 3. What are patties?
> 4. What to do about tracheal mites?
> ...
Ted Fischer responded:
> 1) I don't believe that the question is settled as to whether or not
> the varroa mites carry a virus or they themselves cause all the
> destructive effects we're seeing in infested colonies...
>
> 2) Virus or not, these effects are seen only in varroa infested
> colonies.
>
> 3) Patties are made of vegetable shortening and sugar, and were
> originally made as a vehicle for the introduction of terramycin
> into the colony for foulbrood prevention, since terramycin breaks
> down easily except in the presence of fats. It was subsequently
> noticed that tracheal mite populations were diminished in hives
> containing these patties, and that the control patties without the
> terramycin had the same value in limiting tracheal mites.
>
> 4) The easiest way to control tracheal mites, therefore, is to put
> patties in the hive after the supers are removed. This will
> control both foulbrood diseases as well as tracheal mites. The
> mites are mainly a problem in the fall, when they build up and
> adversely affect the winter bees. Putting patties in the hives at
> this time of year is by far the best thing to do for tracheal
> mites. Patties are commercially available (Terrapatties) or you
> can make your own (a 3 lb can of shortening blended with 5 lbs of
> sugar and a small packet of Terramycin (TM25))....
>
> Ted Fischer
Now, Aaron Morris adds way more than 2 cents worth, with apologies
in advance to those who have read it already.
At the risk of wasting bandwidth to repost recent information from
this forum and sci.agriculture.bees, I'm posting the following excerpt
from the May issue of the Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association
newsletter (which I author and shamelessly steal from both electronic
forums information that may be of value to beekeepers who aren't
connected). The points I want to get across are 1) mites as a vector
in spreading viruses and 2) the possibility that grease patties
(vegetable oil and sugar with no other medications) may be a deterrent
to tracheal mites and such patties (with no other medications) may be an
appropriate treatment throughout the honey producing season. Please
note these are not my original ideas, speculation abounds, and the bee
scientists readily admit that they too do not have definitive answers to
the whys and wherefores behind these issues.
As Rod Serling would say, "Submitted for your approval..."
>-----------------<
Dr. Cynthia Scott-Dupree Addresses Worcester County
Beekeepers
I had the pleasure of attending the April 13 meeting of the
Worcester County Beekeepers Association where Dr. Cynthia
Scott-Dupree of the University of Guelph in Ontario spoke
about Canadian Beekeeping and mites as a vector in spreading
viruses in bees.
The "Canadian Beekeeping" presentation was very informative,
but my main interest (and that of the more than 100 attend-
ing beekeepers) was in hearing what Dr. Scott-Dupree had to
say about the mites. The conundrum faced by bee researchers
is that it's easy to blame bees' demise on V-mites or T-
mites or both, but the truth of the matter is that although
we know mites are here, scientists aren't sure what exactly
is the cause of bee pathology based on the effect of the
mites' presence. The focus of current research in on how
the mites may act as vectors in spreading the approximately
twenty identified bee viruses, which are hard to identify in
the field and whose symptoms may appear as common infectious
diseases, hence being easily misidentified. Studies done by
Drs. Dupree and Brenda Ball (in the UK) have indicated that
with the stock of bees tested in their studies, there ap-
pears to be no correlation between tracheal mites and
honeybee viruses. This is the good news, which could lead
one to conclude that although tracheal mites are a problem
not to be overlooked, the threat is not as nefarious as that
posed by varroa mites, which did exhibit a significant cor-
relation in the spread of chronic bee paralysis virus types
one and two, hairless black bee virus, Kashmir bee virus,
black queen cell virus and others. It is important to note
that many of these viruses are present in a hive environment
in all stages of bee development as non-damaging pathogens.
However it is perhaps the manner in which varroa feed on
honeybees that activates the viruses, helping them to flour-
ish to the detriment of the colony population.
In the meantime while scientists continue to search for an-
swers and solutions to the mite problems we beekeepers need
to manage our bees to reduce stressors as much as possible
to help them remain healthy. This includes using approved
medications such as Fumidil-B for nosema and Terramycin for
foulbrood, and approved treatments to combat mites, which
include grease patties, menthol and Apistan. Of course one
must always follow the directions when using these treat-
ments to avoid contaminating the honey to be harvested. In
these mite infested times a beekeeper may have to forego
some of the honey crop in order to treat their bees in con-
formance with label instructions. The mites have made keep-
ing bees a whole new ball game and new management techniques
need to be developed to keep beekeepers from striking out.
>-----------------<
An article by Dr. Diana Sammataro of Ohio State University
titled "Tracheal Mites Can Be Suppressed by Oil Patties" ap-
peared in the April '96 issue of _American_Bee_Journal_
(Vol 136, No. 4). The gist of the article was that the
continuous presence of vegetable oil based sugar patties
within honeybee hives can be an effective way to keep
tracheal mites in check. The sidebars (taken from pages 280
and 281) are included in this issue of the BeeLine.
REMEMBER! NO TERRAMYCIN WHILE HONEY SUPERS ARE ON THE HIVE!
In addition to the previous ABJ article, other methods of
delivering the vegetable oil have been discussed on the
internet.
* From: John Iannuzzi <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Iannuzzi Method for Treating T-Mite
1. Since the appearance of tracheal mite, I've never used
the recommended treatment of a 50-gram pack of menthol
crystals applied about Sept. 1 when it is still warm
enough to convert the stuff to gas.
2. Today I placed a paper towel saturated w/vegetable oil
(any kind; cheaper the better) between the two deep
brood chambers. Within a week the bees will have re-
moved it. Especially noticeable if one runs pollen traps
as I do, on seven of my strongest colonies (only have 12
now).
3. I also do this September 1st when I repeat the treatment
a week later.
4. In talks w/my fellow beekeepers who use menthol, my sur-
vival rate is as good as theirs.
5. Theory is that the oil makes mite transference between
bees difficult.
6. I know that people use diluted formic acid for the same
purpose even though it is said to be "not approved yet."
C'est la vie. Suum cuique.
Jack the Bman
Ellicott City Md USA
* From: Allen Dick <[log in to unmask]>
I wonder about the paper towel method. Is this scientif-
ically proven to do anything related to T-mites? It would
logically seem that there would only be vegetable oil pres-
ence in the hive for a short time using this procedure, un-
less the oil goes into the wax, or something of that sort.
I thought that Sammataro et al indicated that continued
presence over time is the secret to measurable success with
grease patties, at least. Perhaps I misunderstood.
I would be interested to know if there is any data (measure-
ment compared to controls) for rational evaluation of this
towel recommendation or if this idea is yet unproven.
Many of us have been getting along with no treatment for TM,
so just simple colony survival with no controls or measure-
ment of mite levels is no indication of efficacy.
The mechanism of TM control using oils and grease is not
well understood (AFAIK), so if this is scientifically
proven, then measured and proven success with this technique
would give some insight into the mechanism, perhaps.
It would be nice to know that there is a proven alternate
method to putting grease patties on, but is there?
Regards
W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper
RR#1, Swalwell, Alberta
Canada T0M 1Y0
* From: Franklin Humphrey Sr. <[log in to unmask]>
FYI, Dr. Delaplane has been testing this method of summer
control of T-mites for about 3 years. He has advised
beekeepers in Georgia that is a very effective method when
bees cannot be treated with menthol.
It is thought that removal of the vegetable oil from the
hive creates greasy bees. This in turn hinder the migration
of the mature mites from the older bees to the younger bees.
The patties can be in the form of Crisco or other solid veg-
etable oils placed directly on a paper towel or can be
patties without the terramycin. Some people say that the
paper towel method is better and others like the patty
method. Personally I make my patties only about half a
pound in size and put them between waxed paper. When I put
them in the hive, I tear holes in the paper so that the bees
can get at it. The waxed paper keeps it together so that
the patty can be moved out of the way to manipulate the
hive.
As far as I know there are no official papers written about
this method. It is something that is being tried by numer-
ous beekeepers in Georgia and Tennessee and seems to be an
effective method of slowing the spread of V-mites during
production periods when the bees cannot be medicated.
Frank Humphrey
* From: Allen Dick <[log in to unmask]>
I appreciate Frank taking the time to explain what he knows
and what he has heard for our benefit. A lot of beekeepers
do things under mistaken assumptions or from misunderstand-
ing research results or directions, but I think it's reason-
able to ask for evidence before believing what one is told
-- especially if new information does not agree with what
one has heard before.
This is a particularly intriguing matter that affects many
thousands of dollars in cost -- either of treatment -- or
losses if it doesn't work, so please excuse any scepticism.
Non-sceptical beekeepers tend to lose their bees sooner or
later.
Since the original discussion started, I have received some
private email from several researchers indicating that they
believe these techniques merit some investigation. One says
that the trial he did resulted in no significant benefit
compared to controls, but he soaked cardboard in salad oil,
not towels. (Maybe it's the towel that does the trick, not
the oil) And the trial was in July -- not the best time.
There is some speculation about the mechanisms that are in-
volved with the grease treatments. However, I do not be-
lieve that anyone has *proven* how it works -- only that it
does, and that the effects seem independent of the brand or
source of vegetable oil. One particularly interesting the-
ory is that the breakdown of oil (rancidity) produces a
chemical much like a pheremone that the mite uses to detect
young bees. Of course a SWAG might just say that the grease
just makes it harder to climb into a trachea.
Now what is not clear here is whether you mix sugar into the
patties or just slice off some Crisco. I've wondered why
that wouldn't work, but have not heard of it being done, and
tested against controls. I've wondered about spraying the
bees lightly with salad oil, and I've heard of oil fogging,
and other things too. BUT no matter how nifty these ideas
are, I for one, need someone to try them against controls to
decide I should rely on them. A lack of scientific measure-
ments is unfortunate. Perhaps that will be remedied soon.
Hard facts save cold cash.
Regards,
Allen
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