Varroa Mite Question?

[Candiebears]

I'm new here and I did search.. But I'm a little confused are Varroas in EVERY hive? And is the treatment proactive or reactive?

This whole varroa thing has me confused. And I'd like to fully understand it, before I start in the spring?

Any help is great! And I thank you in advance! :

[beeman2009]

Candi,

Unfortunately if you have bees, you have varroa. They effect some hives more than others depending on the bees tolerance/resistance to the mites. They can kill a hive pretty quickly if they become a problem. Need to do regular mite counts if you see signs  of things like sluggish bees walking around instead of flying, DFW ( Deformed Wing). Personally I don't like to treat but this year I had no choice. I'm not going to stand buy & watch my bees die if I can treat the problem with something natural. I hope I don't have to treat anymore. I've kept small cell bees since 2008 and never seen any problems until now.  Hope this helps you until someone with more experience chimes in.

[Michael Bush]

>But I'm a little confused are Varroas in EVERY hive?

Yes.

>And is the treatment proactive or reactive?

Some people are proactive, some are reactive and some of us don't treat at all.  Ever.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beespests.htm#varroa
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesvarroatreatments.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnaturalcell.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfoursimplesteps.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beessctheories.htm

[Candiebears]

Thank you both for the information! And thank you Michael for the links!

[BeeMaster2]

Candiebears,
If you do not want to treat your bees with chemicals, find out if the BEEK that you intend to buy from, treats their bees. If They do treat, you will need to treat for the same things they do. If they truly do not treat then you probably do not need to treat either. Bees have the genetic history to bee able handle most of the problems we have thrown at them the last ten years. We just threw a lot of problems at them in a short time and they are now just starting to find the right genetics to survive. Treating them does not help them find the right genetics.
Jim

[Candiebears]

Thank you Jim! I'll make sure to ask!

[buzzbee]

If you are buying package bees in the spring, varroa most likely will not be something you need to deal with until the following summer. With bees starting out without drawn comb, there is not as much opportunity for varroa population growth. First year packages don't usually raise as many drones either,also limiting the growth of varroa populations. If you are starting with a nuc colony,you may have to watch the varroa population come late summer.

[jayj200]

RC started a trial that on the merits alone, no chemicals what so ever! sound very promising,

my girls do not seam to have mites. when they do one thinks I'll go do my own study