A new way to deal with varroa?

[max2]

Promising?


I'm only reading a very small number of the contributions to this forum.
Looks like I missed something: Vadescana
https://greenlightbiosciences.com/in-the-pipeline-protecting-the-honeybee/?
The ABJ ( October 2024) has an article on this issue and it sounds too good to be true ( I know..."if it looks too good...)
The article explains that  this product does not kill foundress mites. Hives treated with Vadescan  had much better  outcomes than hives treated with conventional treatments.
It appears that vadescan is preventing mating of Varroa.
One treatment was effective ( in trials) for several months.
We can only hope that this treatment will be approved soon so that beekeepers around the world can benefit.
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[Terri Yaki]

Wasn't there a thread on this started a couple of days ago? I thought I even responded to it but I'm not finding it. Or am I having a biden moment?

[The15thMember]

You had said something about how if it works, it could be the silver bullet we are looking for, Terri.  The original post is under the Australian section.  I'll go delete that one.  This really does apply to all beekeepers, so I think the topic is better here.   

Edit: This topic was later returned to the Aussie section, per the OP's request.

[beesnweeds]

Promising?

Hopefully it works.  If you treated with OA during a broodless period and followed up with Norroa (vadescana) you could be mite free in some hives.  I can control mites very good now, but the one issue is beekeepers in my area that don't check for mites correctly or allow colonies to collapse.  When a hive spikes, I have to remove supers and treat with thymol.  Norroa could eliminate that treatment if I treated monthly with OAV also.  Thymol and OA are still cheap so the only hurdles now would be price and EPA approval.  It would be great if the same treatment could also be developed for tropilaelaps.  If Canada continues to keep importing bees from all over the world, we will have tropi mite in the next decade or less.

[max2]

A good summary on " what is new"
https://wvbahive.org/varroa-control-whats-new/

[maxell86]

I like the stuff that is multiple purpose, hive beetle, ants, moth and no effect on honeybees. Nothing is 100% effective natural to keeps hives pest free, but helps keep the numbers down or none.

But do not want or need varroa, if / when it comes to Queensland, Brisbane. Yeah should pit it against them to keep the numbers down.
Seems the lazy or focused on honey or profit are the main types of people that aid in the spread of varroa.
Move your hives into full sunshine (well where it used to be sunny) This is one part of the story to keep hives disease and pest free including varroa destructor.
But who can find a time to do much when its mostly wet.
The bees are returning with less pollen.... And we know that can lead too, weaker honeybees.

[NigelP]

Too many if's and buts about this stuff for me.  Short shelf life, rapidly degrades.....has to be fed to bees that rearing brood not storing honey (which limits when it can be used) as the varroa need to feed from these bees to intake the double stranded RNA in the sugar syrup. Seems to work under "laboratory" conditions....but in the field. I have my doubts.

[Ben Framed]

Too many if's and buts about this stuff for me.  Short shelf life, rapidly degrades.....has to be fed to bees that rearing brood not storing honey (which limits when it can be used) as the varroa need to feed from these bees to intake the double stranded RNA in the sugar syrup. Seems to work under "laboratory" conditions....but in the field. I have my doubts.

Your reasoning seems valid to me Nigel.