{"id":6818,"date":"2023-11-15T16:33:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T16:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=6818"},"modified":"2023-11-16T21:04:16","modified_gmt":"2023-11-16T21:04:16","slug":"when-should-i-treat-my-bees-for-mites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/when-should-i-treat-my-bees-for-mites\/","title":{"rendered":"When Should I Treat My Bees For Mites?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It’s important to treat bees for mites in a proactive manner at all times. Varroa mite management is an important and necessary aspect of serious beekeeping. A varroa mite infestation can quickly cause high failure, and it is often difficult to detect these tiny invaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many times, beekeepers<\/a> believe that their hives have failed because of loss of the queen, hive beetles, wax moths, starvation and other common beehive maladies. They end up treating for these problems and entirely miss the true culprits, varroa mites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to learn more and to get an answer to the following question: When should I treat my bees for mites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do Varroa Mites Kill Bees?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"how<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Varroa mites damage bees in two ways. First, these parasites sap individual bees\u2019 strength. Secondly, they are vectors for viral diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A varroa mite infestation can cause a sick hive which eventually collapses. As the hive collapses, it may be robbed out by other colonies. This causes a spread of all of the diseases associated with the mite infestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Queen bees can be infected by non-lethal viruses that result in poor brood production. They may also cause the queen to be superseded by another individual, and this results in failure of the colony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Should You Treat Your Bee Colony For Varroa Mites?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"when<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the most important aspects of treating for varroa mites is timing. Be sure not to use any treatment during the months of April through July when the supers are on the hives. This could have a negative impact on the quality and purity of the honey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You want to make certain to eradicate or at least lower mite populations before autumn. Brood buildup typically occurs from September through the middle of November. If you don’t treat for mites during this time, the varroa mite population will increase dramatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there are lots of mites in your beehive at the beginning of winter, you can count on having your hive fail before spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For these reasons, it’s a good idea to treat routinely three times a year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Treat during the months of July and August prior to autumn brood buildup.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Treat during the months of November and December during the time when there is no brood.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Treat during the months of February and March prior to the start of honey season.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    It’s very important to treat proactively. If you wait until you are aware of a varroa mite infestation, it’s probably too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Most treatment manufacturers warn that treating a weak hive will significantly stress your bees. To keep your hive healthy, you must treat it regularly, while it’s healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What Is The Best Treatment For Varroa Mites?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"best<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Although many beekeepers express a preference for so-called “soft” treatments, which are naturally produced, the fact is these treatments can be rather unpredictable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Natural miticides, such as thymol and formic acid are preferred by many beekeepers. If you choose to go the natural route, you must take care to apply the products correctly and repeat application consistently to significantly reduce the mite population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Chemical treatments prepared especially for use in beehives typically kill more adult mites and remain effective to kill juveniles as they hatch and become active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On the downside, some synthetic treatments leave long-lasting or permanent residues inside the beehive. This can interfere with the drones\u2019 and the queen\u2019s fertility. Some beekeepers believe that synthetic residues contribute to ongoing health problems for bees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Another problem with synthetics is that mites can develop resistance to them. This is especially true if the same product is used repeatedly. For this reason, it may be a good idea to rotate products so that mites cannot evolve in a way that allows them to resist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There are a number of good synthetic and natural miticides that are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. When purchasing any product, look for this certification. Read and follow all instructions carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What About Home Remedies For Varroa Mites?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Some home remedies for mites work quite well. Among these are essential oils such as thyme oil. This is the main ingredient in a very popular commercial treatment known as Honey \u2013 Bee Healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Another natural treatment that is quite effective is oxalic acid. This is a government approved, organic, naturally occurring acid that is inexpensive, stable in wide-ranging temperatures and quite effective when used consistently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Varroa Mite Oxalic Acid Treatment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    https:\/\/youtu.be\/O99Ys3pbjhk<\/a>