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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 28 Dec 2003 12:13:46 -0500
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>>The whole point is that oxalic treatment is not very effective until
there is little or no brood and, by delaying treatment until then, the
young bees that we need to overwinter will have been infested with
varroa. The average lifespan of a bee with DWV is 88 days - so these
bees (and therefore the colony) will not survive the winter. It is,
therefore, essential to reduce varroa numbers before winter bees are
reduced



I agree,.  I 'm told that it is most effective with little or no brood present,
meaning late fall treatments.  In my mind late fall treatment of severe
infected colonies are a complete waste of time, money and effort.  It is
not the mites on the bees that kill the colony, its the mite damage to
the young wintering bees that kills the colony. One step at a time, you
must get the hive to early spring so they can start brooding. For a fall
treatment to be effective, you have to treat at least a cycle and a half
before the bees prepare for winter confinement. You must prevent the
mites from entering the cell and damaging the bee. If your hives have
a mite problem, your young wintering bees will already be damaged
by the time you late fall treat with Oxalicacid.
You will have weak stressed hives come next spring anyway and
wasted effort.

Ian

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