The problem of the Varroa mite
Once the Varroa mite is in the hive, it can cause a lot of damage. It is mainly the brood that is affected. In fact, the mites also like to go after the bees and feed on their fat cells. To do this, they have to inflict an injury on the bee. This does not harm the insect at first. However, each injury is also a gateway for pathogens that can cause bee mortality.
First and foremost, the mites settle on the nurse bees, because they have good access to the brood through them. They settle in the brood and feed on it. If the young bees then hatch, they usually have physical damage and only a short life expectancy. For these reasons, colonies have already died out over the winter.
The biggest problem, however, is the distribution of pathogens and viruses. Diseases spread by mites include wing deformity and bee paralysis virus. The Deformed Wings Virus - abbreviated as DWV, is often directly detectable. Therefore, proceed quickly with cleaning.
Hints for Varroa:
- You can usually recognize the mites by an infestation of the bees.
- They are small and have a reddish coloring.
- Deformed wings are an indication of a heavy infestation.
Taking chemical action against the Varroa mite
If you have discovered an infestation in your colonies, cleaning should take place immediately. The faster you react, the lower the possible losses. One of the approaches to control, which is still used very often today, is the use of chemical aids. Oxalic acid or formic acid are used for this purpose. For the transfer of the acid you need a suitable applicator, which you can order from us in the online store. The solution for the treatment is also available. Thus, you will find formic acid as well as lactic acid with us. You can work very precisely via an aspiration set with dosing syringe.
Universal evaporators as well as sulfur cuts have also proven to be very helpful in combating pests. Both are easy to use, but very effective in their effect.
Treatment of varroa in a natural way
As passionate beekeepers, we understand very well if you do not want to expose your bees to chemicals. There are certainly other treatment options that have a natural basis. It has been shown that the use of brood breaks or even brood removal can help to quickly reduce the infested brood. To cut the drone brood you need a drone frame, which you can also buy online from us.
With the frame you remove part of the drone brood and destroy it. Especially the drones are particularly often affected, because they need longer to hatch than it is the case with the workers. In addition to cutting the drone brood, however, chemical treatment is still recommended. The danger is too great that an infestation of the workers has also taken place and the mites continue to multiply.
Think of your own protection
Working with chemical products is always a challenge. You want to stress your bees as little as possible, but at the same time remove the mites quickly and effectively. That's why people like to resort to spraying. Keep in mind that the chemicals can also be harmful to you as a beekeeper. It is therefore all the more important that you have effective protection. We at Beekeeping Professional have included in our range a selection of products for your physical protection for this very reason.
Acid gloves for men and women ensure that your hands and arms are protected from the splashes of acid and that no inflammations can form. Fine dust masks, or respirators, keep the fine droplets created by the sprayer from entering your respiratory system.
Often, as a beekeeper, you do not even notice that your body may be damaged during the treatment. However, even small splashes of the different acids are enough to cause, for example, headaches or damage to the skin. Therefore, we always recommend that you protect yourself adequately. If you are unsure which products are helpful for your chosen treatment and cleaning against varroa, we will of course be happy to advise you.
Find everything for the fight against varroa directly online
Pests are not only annoying, they also harm your bee colony. The Varroa mite is particularly persistent and can leave severe damage. For this reason, in our online store at Bienenschutz-Profi, we focus, among other things, on what products can be used to combat it. Find bulk packs or also handy versions of chemical agents with us, equip yourself with the right protective products for yourself and say the battle to the mites. If you still need support from our experts, feel free to contact us. We will answer your questions quickly and straightforwardly and support you in pest control.
