Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => RAPID BEEYARD GROWTH => Topic started by: SkepWrangler on June 30, 2012, 11:58:16 pm

Title: Anybody finding more Varroa (or less) in swarms and cut-outs?
Post by: SkepWrangler on June 30, 2012, 11:58:16 pm

I'm looking for any comments...or better yet, some observable trends...regarding whether captured swarms or hives that came from cut-outs tend to have more Varroa destructor compared with managed hives.
FYI, I have been carefully checking drone brood in cut-outs, looking for evidence of Varroa.
Wondering if high Varroa numbers are an inducement to swarm?
Also wondering if healthy, rapidly-expanding hives are related to Varroa-resistant conditions which in turn cause swarms/feral hives to have some lower/higher incidence of Varroa.
Looking forward to hearing your experiences, thanks,
SkepWrangler

Title: Re: Anybody finding more Varroa (or less) in swarms and cut-outs?
Post by: beek1951 on July 01, 2012, 12:36:03 am

Strangely enough, I have had two hives in my yards destryed by SHB larvae.
I do a lot of cutouts and never see feral colonies with beetle problems. This year
has bee terrible for SHB. I don't worry much about Varoa and treat twice a year just
cause everybody else does. I use the fogger with mineral oil and wintergreen oil
method.

Title: Re: Anybody finding more Varroa (or less) in swarms and cut-outs?
Post by: SkepWrangler on July 01, 2012, 04:42:56 am

Hello Beek1951,
Thanks for the reply.
Interestingly, we don't have SHB here.  I hear that it is just too dry for the SHB larvae to propagate.  Maybe I should have made my question more broad to ask about any kind of parasites or pests typically found in feral hives and swarms.  I DO hope to get some responses regarding a tendency toward more (or less) Varroa in non-managed colonies.
Best regards,
SkepWrangler

Title: Re: Anybody finding more Varroa (or less) in swarms and cut-outs?
Post by: gardeningfireman on July 16, 2012, 03:44:17 pm

I have increased my hive count from five this spring to 21 currently, all from removals and swarms. Inspector came out and we did a thorough inspection of ten of them (one yard). We found NO mites and NO SHB!! :) She will be coming out soon to do inspections at the other yards soon. I have not seen any signs of either at those yards either. Also, I use no chemicals in my hives.

Title: Re: Anybody finding more Varroa (or less) in swarms and cut-outs?
Post by: AllenF on July 16, 2012, 03:47:43 pm

One thing to remember is that a break in brood production will have an effect on mite levels. 

Title: Re: Anybody finding more Varroa (or less) in swarms and cut-outs?
Post by: SkepWrangler on July 16, 2012, 11:14:36 pm

Quote from: gardeningfireman on July 16, 2012, 03:44:17 pm

Inspector came out and we did a thorough inspection of ten of them (one yard). We found NO mites and NO SHB!! :)

Thank you for the informative reply!
Please let us know if, in future inspections, any Varroa is found.
Regards,
SkepWrangler

Title: Re: Anybody finding more Varroa (or less) in swarms and cut-outs?
Post by: gardeningfireman on July 31, 2012, 12:15:09 pm

Got the results from the samples the inspector sent in. No diseases and 1.4 mites per 100 bees.

Title: Re: Anybody finding more Varroa (or less) in swarms and cut-outs?
Post by: sid8 on October 17, 2012, 08:52:22 am

aweom post..

Title: Re: Anybody finding more Varroa (or less) in swarms and cut-outs?
Post by: Maryland Beekeeper on October 30, 2012, 12:34:49 am

did about a dozen cutouts this season, maybe 15.
Aprox:
70% SHB infested or became so
25% Wax moth
saw one mite

all my hives have screened/oil trap bottoms
lost several to SHB had to do combinations and contortions all season long, bad year for SHB warm and wet
I did fog once a month.
Cheers,
Drew