As everyone know, now scientists consider Varroa mite as the cause of the appearance and transmission of most viral infections in bee colonies. The death of families has become colossal. This winter in Russia in the Stavropol region, in the foothills of the Caucasus, died apiaries of up to 500 families...
Throughout the winter of 2018-2019, we worked on a theory that would allow us to fight the varroa mite without using chemicals. On the basis of our theory, we have developed a hive design that will allow us to do this without additional electronics, connecting of electricity, and communication networks ... Our task is to make the design cheap and easy to repeat. Because if our experiment will be successful, everyone will need such a hive !!!
The experiment has begun. Was bought 3 identical families. Now, one of them live in the experimental hive, the other two are in ordinary hives. We conduct periodic monitoring of the status and number of mites.
Interesting results we will periodically publish.
We regularly monitor the number of mites in a family living in an experimental hive. On June 12, after a week ( 6 days) of hot weather (30–32 ° C), we found 18 mites, felt from the bees or thrown out from the cells by the bees. Control, made on June 19 ( 7 days) showed 1 mite felt from the bees or thrown out from the cells by the bees. The wash in the detergent solution from 120 bees gave a zero result. Next time we will try to control the mites directly in the capped brood.
So, we have:
the first period ( 20 of May- 2 of June) - 8+2 mites/ 4+6 days = 1 mite per day
the second period ( 6 of June- 19 of June) - 18+1 mites /6+7 days = 1,3 mites per day
instead of normative - 10 Varroa mites per day ( for USA)
the first period ( 20 of May- 2 of June) - 8+2 mites/ 4+6 days = 1 mite per day
the second period ( 6 of June- 19 of June) - 18+1 mites /6+7 days = 1,3 mites per day
USA normativer for mites felt on sticky board, and washed with alcohol or detergent are the follows -
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Does this mean that our method works fine ?????
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New measurements were made 24 of June. The quantity of mites was inspected in the fall on sticky board in the experimental hive, and in drone brood in hive 8-2.
After 5 day's pause, our control gave only 1 mite .
Control of capped brood - 150 larvae tested, no mites. This is somewhat strange despite the fact that bee brood is pretty full of holes. It is possible that the mites already moved into the brood of worker bees.
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This table is like a bible for those who want to study Varroa mites and the influence of any external factors on them.
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We tried for the first time sugar test for Varroa mites control.
The result was not so good as we expected. We found only 1 mite in one family. It is possible, that we took small amount of bees from each hive ....not more than 100 bees... may be less...
The only difference which we got - the mite was alive....
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Our usual test of experimental hive ,when we control the mites falling on the botton gve us 5(6) mites during 7 days. This is good result, because the everage number of mites per day is less than 1 !!!!
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