Tupelo Bee Keepers Association Nosema and Varroa

Tupelo Bee Keepers Association Nosema IFAS Extension video http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/honeybee/instruction.shtml Skipping diagnoses on video

Tupelo Bee Keepers Association Nosema Over view Symptoms Bees on Ground K-wing Fecal staining on colony front Generally seen late fall or early spring 4. Test to be sure Collect from front of hive or peripheral of frames You want older bees Control Fumagilin-B, mixed with sugar water Tea Tree Oil emulsified and mixed with sugar water.

Tupelo Bee Keepers Association Varrroa Mite IFAS Extension video http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/honeybee/instruction.shtml

Tupelo Bee Keepers Association Varroa Mite Over view Symptoms Dead Bees K-wing or deformed wings See mites on thorax, abdomen or between bee plates Use scrapper to check for mites in cells Sticky screens – leave for three days, 180 on screen = 3,000 in hive Ether roll (kills bees) , 300 bees in a jar, (9-12 fall)(3 Spring) on jar Powdered sugar roll – 300 bees in a jar, (9-12 fall) )(3 Spring) on paper

Tupelo Bee Keepers Association Varroa Mite Over view Control Use Integrated Pest Management – use a number of non-chemical controls to keep population under control. Use chemicals only after those controls fail. Cultural mechanical control Screen bottom boards – 15% reduction Drone brood trapping ( drone broad foundation) Genetic control Minnesota Hygienic Queen Russian Queen VSH Queen (Varroa sensitive hygiene)

Tupelo Bee Keepers Association Varroa Mite Over view Chemical control Apistan – active ingredient Fluvalinate – bad for bees Check Mite – active ingredient Couraphos – bad for bees API LIFE VAR – several natural ingredients APIGUARD – active ingredient Thymal Formic Acid Non-chemical control Winter green essence of oil in sugar water – stops mites from reproducing Mineral oil with 10-20 drops of Winter Green use in a fogger – kills mites in contact Oxalic Acid (approved by the EPA in March 2015 under section 3 of FIFRA (Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act) Walnut shavings Oregano, Thyme in powdered sugar

Varroa Mite Life cycle