I made an observation hive earlier in the year and installed one top bar
from my modified Tanzanian top bar hives.  The bees came up well and have
sealed honey in all areas except about 1/4 of the comb near the entrance
where brood is reared.  I've been very happy with the result...I enjoy
just watching bee behavior.  I've also been using it to watch for Varroa.
 
Earlier this week I saw the first Varroa in the observation hive.  I
could see mites on several bees.  I had some old Apistan strips that had
been left open in my tool shed (dark inside except when the doors are open),
strips which had been in two Langstroth colonies from about mid February
until the end of March approximately.  I took one strip, trimmed about
3/8 inch off the side so that it would slip through the notch I put in
the center of the top bars, and inserted it in the observation hive.  The
next morning, about 12 hours later, there were more that 60 mites dead on
the floor of the observation hive; moreover, I looked at the bees closely
and I didn't see a single mite on a bee.
 
I realize that this is a single observation, not a well-constructed
experiment, and there are many variables.  Temperature for example...in
my location about 40 miles N of Atlanta, USA we've had many days in
excess of 90 to 95F, and in the greenhouse where I have the observation
hive the temperature has been very high during the day.  Regardless, the
following seems to be clear to me:
 
1. The Apistan strips can maintain activity longer than I have been led
to believe.
 
2. Mite kill can be very rapid and very complete...far faster than I
thought possible.
 
I would enjoy any comments that you might have on my observations.  Do my
observations suggest any change in treatment protocol from what has been
recommended on the Apistan box?  Have you treated Varroa in observations
hives?  What did you see resulting?
 
Cordially yours,
 
Jim
 
 
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|  James D.Satterfield   |  [log in to unmask]     or    |
|  P.O. Box 2243         |  [log in to unmask]                        |
|  Decatur, GA 30031 USA |  Telephone 404 378-8917  |
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