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Author Topic: Varroa in the subtropics  (Read 10415 times)

Offline Ben Framed

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Re: Varroa in the subtropics
« Reply #20 on: November 19, 2023, 07:55:25 pm »
Max I haven?t been on your countries site in a while. Is there a definite plan from here?
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Offline max2

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Re: Varroa in the subtropics
« Reply #21 on: December 03, 2023, 12:03:43 am »
Amazed how little news i have received about the current situation?

Offline Ben Framed

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Re: Varroa in the subtropics
« Reply #22 on: December 11, 2023, 01:20:12 am »
I have looked but did not come up with much.  Maybe no news is good news?

Phillip
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Offline max2

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Re: Varroa in the subtropics
« Reply #23 on: December 14, 2023, 12:40:45 am »
I have lost count of the number of emails I have sent to " experts".
Our situation seems to be unique and we will have to work it out as we go along.
All clear so far.

Offline max2

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Re: Varroa in the subtropics
« Reply #24 on: December 21, 2023, 04:21:29 am »
This summary has just been mailed:
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1486513/DPI-Primefact-Varroa-mite-management-options_final-.pdf?&mkt_tok=NjQzLU5PRy0zMDAAAAGQKRMptKZFuOd_WQv-eQtZY7-mjKpHpeFPXZPCI-a-UAmMx-M718tXMeLDMEfEZNl3jSthviIYa_zL3T1wWyvZzFkff8Yefw7EXGHWesyi

It looks to me a good one and quite comprehensive.

The problem is that for us, in the subtropics , it does not offer any acceptable solutions.

We are never broodless, we may take honey off any time during the year.

I will have a chat with  some of my friends with a lot more hives then i have...but I can hear them already. They will simply use any available strips.

There are realy cowboy methods used to deal with SHB ( eg Fironil) and why would beekeepers use IPM? Too time consuming...

And for the people with just a few hives? Will they check their brood every 16 weeks?

Pigs may fly...

Offline Michael Bush

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Re: Varroa in the subtropics
« Reply #25 on: December 21, 2023, 07:12:04 am »
If the aphids aren't sprayed on the soybeans it will cost them 10% of their crop.  If the aphids are sprayed on the soybeans it will kill the bees and that will cost them 20% of their crop.  The intelligent move is to not spray.  I have one farmer who raised pumpkins and when I put the bees there he stopped spraying his soybeans and he saw no real difference except that there were more bees and it saved him a lot of money.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
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Offline max2

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Re: Varroa in the subtropics
« Reply #26 on: January 17, 2024, 05:26:20 pm »
There has been no more news about Varroa for a while.
The best information came from the Uni Florida.
It appears they are leading researchers in our climate range.
Reading a lot of their information ( and watching videos) i have worked out a plan which i feel i can handle considering my age limitation, time and financial cost.
Of course I'm hoping that Varroa will not make it up this way for  some years.
Everybody I sell nuc's to is aware of the requiremnet to watch out. I have quite a large mailing list and will keep these beekeepers informed.

Offline max2

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Re: Varroa in the subtropics
« Reply #27 on: Today at 07:07:47 pm »
This came into my inbox today:
https://www.ecrotek.com.au/products/formic-pro-2-pkt

$ 20 per hive!!!

I wonder how many are willing to spend this much a couple of times a year?

The use seems easy enough. It is "organic".

Online The15thMember

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Re: Varroa in the subtropics
« Reply #28 on: Today at 09:03:38 pm »
I use FormicPro sometimes, and it is very easy to use and organic.  The biggest benefit is that it is the only treatment (that I am aware of anyway) that kills mites under the brood cappings.  It also will kill sick bees, so I always use it if a have a hive that is acting sick along with having a high mite count.  Plus, it's safe for supers (although I personally still don't treat with supers on, since I'm worried about the smell of it being transferred to the honey).  The downside is it's very temperature sensitive and will release too quickly if the temps are too hot, potentially leading to queen supersedure, excessive brood mortality, and absconding.  I only use it at the lower end of the recommended temperature range, and I've never had any of these problems.  That price is about the same as over here, actually it's a little bit cheaper for you guys (and yes, I did remember to convert AUD to USD :wink: ).  It's a very efficacious product, so I've never treated a hive more than once a year with it.       
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