>Just attended the Indiana State Beekeepers meeting this past Sat. (Mar. 25).
>This is the first meeting I have attended. It was very informative. The part
>that helped me the most as a beekeeper was the talk by the new IN. State Bee
>Inspector. I don't envy her, nor her helpers any at all. There are 92
>counties in the state of IN. There are seven, maybe eight inspectors,
>including herself, to cover the whole state this spring and summer.
>
>The main scope of her talk was on the problem with mites. Namely, the Varroa
>and Tracheal mites. As most of you know, or at least have heard, they have
>been creating a problem for beekeepers in Europe for over twenty years. They
>are in the USA now and will probably be in Canada soon, if they aren't
>already. Our part of the Midwest has been hit particularly hard. Partly
>because many beekeepers thought they wouldn't get the mites and didn't treat
>for them. And then you have large pollinators who feel it is cheaper to
>replace bees than to treat.
>
>Currently there is only one prescribed and approved treatment for the
>Varroa. That is Apistan. But it has to be used accordong to package
>directions or the mites will become resistant to the fluvalinate-based
>insecticide. I have used Apistan with a great deal of success so far. And
>would recommend both a spring and fall treatment.
>
>For the Tracheal mite, which is not as great a problem so far, there are a
>couple of treatments that she said were approved. One is the use of menthol
>in the early spring. It has been prven effective in the treatment of
>Trachael mites. The only problem we have in this area is that our springs
>are not warm enough, at least not normally. It has to be fairly warm for the
>vapors to dissipatee throughout the hive.
>
>The other treatment for Tracheal mites is the use of extender patties. This
>is where I learned something new at the meeting. Kathleen Prough (our State
>Bee Insp.) says that she recommends the use of extender patties WITHOUT
>Terramycin. She recommmended that hives be treated in the spring with a
>Terramycin and Powdered Sugar dusting for AFB. Her reason was thus: IF you
>use only vegetable shortening and sugar to treat for tracheal mites, you can
>leave the treatment on year round. And it is the shortening that is
>effective in controlling the Tracheal mite. I believe I am going to use this
>method in  the future.
>
>She also talked about a new disease that has been showing up that was
>discussed in the December 1994 issue of the American Bee Journal. Can't
>remember the name but if it is present, it will appear that you have AFB,
>EFB, and Sacbrood all three. The main difference is that the dead larvae
>will not rope out when you test for AFB.
>
>She also told us the proper method for sending samples for testing to the
>Bee REsearc Lab at Beltsville. They ask that a 2"x2" sample of brood with
>the symptons be sent in PAPER. NO plastic as this destroys the sample. She
>also said that they do not want any honey in the sample. Also send along
>approximately 100 dead adult bees which have died naturally.
>
>We also learned how to bleach dark wax and how to make moisturizing lotion
>using beeswax. But I'll save that for another message. I have rambled on too
>long as it is.
>
>Hope this information is helpful.
>
>gh
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