Varroatosis in bees: treatment and prevention

Among all the misfortunes to which honey bees are exposed, the most insidious is mite infestation. These small parasites appear suddenly in the hive and provoke many dangerous diseases, and therefore timely treatment of bees in the fall against mites is a necessary procedure for both professionals and amateur beekeepers.

What is varroatosis

Varroatosis is a non-infectious disease caused by the Varroa Jacobsoni mite. This parasite infects brood or adult bees and feeds on their hemolymph, which leads to anatomical abnormalities in insects and even their death. For the first time, this disease was recorded only in Indian bees, but then, starting in the 60s of the last century, it spread throughout the world.

Varroatosis is considered a very dangerous disease, since it not only reduces the performance of the entire bee family, but can also destroy the entire apiary in the absence of timely treatment and proper processing.

Life cycle of the Varroa mite

Once in the hive, the female mite climbs into a cell with drone or bee brood shortly before sealing and begins to feed heavily on the food intended for the larva. Then she lays one unfertilized egg, from which a male Varroa hatches after 6 days, and several fertilized ones, from which young females emerge a day later. Here, in the cell, the male fertilizes the females and dies. Female mites attach themselves to the bee pupa and feed on its hemolymph. After the brood leaves the comb, the mites crawl into the next cells, resuming the reproduction cycle.

They often cling to adult bees, piercing the chitinous shell of insects in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe articulation of the neck and abdomen. An infected bee or larva can be distinguished from a healthy one without the use of special instruments, since a round shiny brown formation with a diameter of 1 - 2 mm will be noticeable on it.

How does infection occur?

Infection with bee varroa occurs for a number of reasons:

1. Varroa mites tend to detach from bees during the pollen collection period and wait for a new host for 5 days, hiding in the grass or flowers, so they are often carried by worker bees at the end of honey collection.
2. The parasite can be brought into the hive by thieving bees or vagrant drones infected with varroa.
3. The movement of frames with affected brood of bees from one hive to another contributes to the spread of the disease.
4. Introducing a mite-infested bee colony into a healthy community can also cause signs of varroa.

Signs of bee disease with varroa

Since mites feed on brood food during the breeding season, the larvae often do not have enough food during development. For this reason, bees with varroa often emerge from the brood without wings or with other abnormalities, such as:

• small size;
• deformed abdomen;
• asymmetrical wings;
• lack of several legs.

Many larvae die right in the cells, which is why the lids on them become concave or acquire a rotten smell. Adults behave restlessly, do not participate in honey collection and are passive in the affairs of the hive.

Degree of damage

As a rule, 3 stages of varroatosis manifestation are observed:

• mite infestation of bees reaches 10%;
• mite infestation of bees reaches 20%;
• mite infestation of bees reaches 40% and higher.

In the first case, if the bee colony has so far functioned without failures, it can easily live with the disease, requiring minimal handling by the beekeeper.However, in the second and third cases, it is necessary to begin treatment and treatment immediately in order to maintain the health and functionality of the bees.

Diagnostics in laboratory conditions

The effectiveness of treatment of varroatosis in bee colonies infected with mites directly depends on the timing of diagnosis. A timely diagnosis will prevent further spread of the disease. However, the degree of infection can only be determined in laboratory conditions.

For analysis, about 200 g of dead bees and litter from the hive are taken, and, depending on the season, samples of brood, honeycomb and live insects. So, in the spring, brood with a comb of 3x15 cm is sent for research, in the summer and autumn they take drone brood or 100 live insects, which are transported in glass jars, tied with gauze in 2 - 3 layers. It is better to transport brood and honeycombs in plywood or wood boxes, positioning the frames so that they do not touch the walls.

The right time to treat bees for varroa

Treatment to combat bee varroa should begin in the fall, in particular before the hive overwinters. As a rule, during this period, honey is pumped out, which means that the tick will have several times less food. This significantly reduces the chances of ticks reproducing. At this point, the remaining brood also comes out of the honeycombs, and during treatment and processing the risk of harming the larvae will be minimal. In addition, mites on adult insects will not be able to spread throughout the apiary, since honey collection has already been completed.

However, it often happens that varroatosis occurs in the spring and progresses quickly. In this situation, delay in treatment can be fatal for the bees. Therefore, when choosing products for treating bees against mites, it is necessary to take into account the time of year.

Methods for treating varroatosis

Treatment of bees for varroatosis is carried out in several ways:

• chemical;
• physical;
• using traditional processing methods.

The choice of treatment method depends on the season during which the treatment is carried out. However, these methods do not provide complete removal of ticks and can only reduce the number of parasites. At the same time, the most significant results are observed when combining several methods of treating varroatosis.

What can you give bees against mites?

Today, almost all commercially available drugs for the treatment of varroatosis contain 4 types of active substances:

• amitraz;
• bromopropylate;
• chlorobenzilate;
• fluvalinate.

Based on them, aqueous solutions and tick strips are produced from polymer or wood with appropriate impregnation. Among the latter, Folbex is especially popular.

Folbex is a foreign-made anti-mite preparation, one pack of which contains 50 cardboard strips impregnated with 400 mg of chlorobenzilate. It is used in spring and summer. In the morning or evening, the strips are fixed on the frame where the honeycombs are not located, placed in the center of the nest and set on fire. 2 strips of product are enough to treat 1 hive of 16 frames. Treatment with Folbex is stopped 30 days before the main honey collection by removing the frame from the hive.

A very common drug in the treatment of ticks is Bipin, which contains amitraz.It is available in glass ampoules of 1 or 0.5 ml and is highly concentrated, so before processing it must be diluted with water, carefully following the directions on the package. The solution of this medicine has a strong unpleasant odor. It must be used immediately after preparation. The prepared product is poured into the space between the frames at the rate of 10 ml per 1 street. For 1 family, from 50 to 150 ml is consumed, depending on how strong it is. Treatment is carried out in the fall during the formation of the club - 2 times with a break of 1 week.

Apitak - another medicine containing amitraz - is also used in the form of a solution due to its strong concentration. To do this, 1 ampoule of 0.5 ml is diluted in 1 liter of warm water. Apply it in the same quantity as bipin, distributing the liquid using a syringe or measuring bottle. If the results are unsatisfactory, the treatment can be repeated after 7 days.

In addition to solutions and tick strips, smoldering tablets, for example, Apivarol, are in considerable demand. Often, 1 brown pill is enough to treat an entire family of bees. The medicine should be set on fire and extinguished as soon as the fire appears. At the same time, smoke containing an anti-varroa substance, in this case amitraz, begins to be released, which destroys the mite. For greater effect, the tablet should be placed in the center of the nest and the hole should be closed for 20 minutes. Repeat the course of treatment if necessary after 5 - 7 days.

Although chemical treatment methods are quite effective in the fight against varroa, Varroa mites tend to adapt to substances in veterinary drugs within 2 to 3 years. Therefore, it is recommended to change synthetic drugs every season, combining them with physical treatment or with folk recipes.

Treatment of bees for varroatosis without chemicals

The physical impact method implies the absence of chemicals in the treatment of varroatosis. Instead, the infected bee colony is subjected to heat or magnetic treatment.

Heat treatment is based on the difference in sensitivity of bees and Varroa mites to high temperatures. The former tolerate heat much better, while ticks quickly die if conditions do not correspond to the range of 25 - 35 ° C.

For treatment, morning or evening hours are chosen, when all insects are present in the nest. Frames with bees are moved to a thermal chamber, where temperatures are set to 46 °C. In this case, the queen bee is placed separately from the rest of the family. After 15 - 20 minutes, the mites fall off the bees, after which the insects are returned to the hive.

A similar treatment for bees against varroa is usually practiced in the fall, when all the mites are on adult insects. And although this method of treating varroatosis has its supporters, it is quite risky, as it poses a danger not only to the mite, but also to the bees.

Magnetic processing is less dangerous in this regard. It requires the installation of 2 powerful magnets in the area of ​​bees' flight activity, for example, near the entrance hole or flight board.Magnets do not cause any harm to bees, but they disorient the mites, which leads to them falling off. Special mesh traps will help prevent them from returning to the hive.

Treatment of bees for varroatosis with folk remedies

Among other drugs for treating Varroa mites, experienced beekeepers prefer folk remedies as a safer and organically pure alternative to chemical treatments. This helps prolong the life of bees and preserve the natural properties of honey and other beekeeping products.

Celandine against varroatosis

Many beekeepers note the effectiveness of celandine in the fight against Varroa mites, although its positive effects have not been scientifically proven to date. Flowers and the green part of the plant are often used to prepare the drug, but the rhizome is also suitable for treating ticks. Before use, the grass is thoroughly dried, making sure that it is not exposed to direct sunlight. A decoction is prepared from dry raw materials according to the following recipe:

1. 100 g of fresh or 50 g of dried celandine is poured into 1 liter of boiling water.
2. Boil the vegetable raw materials for 3 minutes over medium heat.
3. After this, the finished product is infused for at least 30 minutes.

The resulting decoction should be sprayed on the bees, brood and frames 3 - 5 times with a break of 6 - 7 days between treatments. This remedy is used not only in the treatment of varroatosis, but also in the prevention of diseases such as foulbrood and nosematosis.

Fir oil

Fir oil has proven its benefits as an effective and absolutely harmless remedy against ticks. Treatment of varroatosis with fir oil is carried out as follows:

1. Take a sheet of parchment, the size suitable for the bottom of the hive, and lubricate it with essential oil in an amount of 1 - 2 ml per 1 family.
2. After this, the sheet is placed over the frames with the oiled side down and covered with canvas. In this case, the tapholes are closed for 1 - 2 hours.
3. Then the tapholes are reopened and the parchment is left for another 72 hours. During this time, some of the mites will fall to the bottom of the hive, so it would be a good idea to place a trap net there.

This method of treating bees for varroatosis is carried out 3 times in the summer and 2 times in the fall and spring, with an interval of 8 - 10 days. The optimal temperature for tick treatment is +14 – +30 °C.

Sugar syrup with herbs

For varroatosis, it will be useful to treat bees with sugar syrup, to which infusions of calendula, chamomile or motherwort flowers are added:

1. 50 g of dry mass of the plant is added to 1 liter of cold water.
2. Boil the workpiece in a steam bath for 30 minutes, then another 15 minutes. after boiling.
3. Within 30 min. The broth is allowed to cool, filtered and combined with syrup at the rate of 50 - 100 g per 1 liter.

Hot pepper infusion

An equally effective medicine in the treatment of varroatosis is an infusion of red capsicum:

1. 50 - 60 g of dried pepper should be cut into 1 cm pieces and placed in a thermos.
2. Then pour 1 liter of boiling water, seal tightly and leave for 15 - 20 hours.
3. After this, the infusion should be filtered without squeezing.

Pepper infusion is used to treat frames with bees and brood, walls and the bottom of the hive, spraying the surfaces with “Rosinka”.It is necessary to treat bees for varroatosis in this way 3-4 times with a break of 7-8 days in the spring, after pumping out honey and in the fall, during the release of the last brood.

Formic acid

Formic acid has also proven itself well against bee varroatosis. As a rule, in the treatment of this disease, technical formic acid grades A, B and analytical grade are used, whose concentration is 86.5 - 99.7%. Most often, strips of cardboard 20-25 cm long are impregnated with this product, after which they are wrapped in plastic bags according to size and closed, bending the top edge twice. Then a couple of holes with a diameter of 1.5 cm are made in them, they are placed on the frame at the top of the nest so that the holes are at the bottom. Place 2 slats under the bags and leave for 20 - 25 days. The method of treating with formic acid in bottles is also quite effective, but this drug should be used in any form with caution, since its high concentration can harm bees.

The treatment procedure for ticks is carried out in the spring after flying around, 1 week before the main honey collection and at the end of summer after honey is extracted.

Pine flour

Very useful in the treatment of varroatosis is pine flour, which is a powder made from the needles of various tree species. This flour is used to sprinkle bees and honeycombs using a gauze bag.For 1 bee colony, 40 - 50 g of this medicine is enough. The treatment is repeated three times, once every 7 days. The effect is noticeable after 12 hours: mites begin to die en masse, as they cannot tolerate the active substances contained in the needles.

Treatment of bees for varroatosis with wormwood

A popular remedy for eliminating Varroa mites is wormwood infusion:

1. 500 g of dry plant mass is poured with 10 liters of boiling water.
2. Then the vessel with the liquid is covered with a thick cloth and left to infuse for 2 days.
3. Next, the drug is filtered and mixed with syrup in a ratio of 1:10. The syrup is made from 1 kg of honey or sugar per 1 liter of water.
4. 100 g of medicine covers each bee frame

Modern means of combating mites in bees

Progress does not stand still in the field of beekeeping, and the ranks of long-proven drugs are replenished with modern means of treating varroatosis. In recent years, methods of treating bees against mites such as Varromor smoke gun and strips have become increasingly popular among beekeepers.

The principle of operation of the smoke gun is to fumigate the bees with smoke, the medicinal vapors of which may include fluvalinate, oxalic acid, thymol and other agents that destroy mites. These fumes settle on the bees and irritate them, as a result of which they begin to actively swarm in the nest, spreading the drug to all corners of the hive. This makes treating varroatosis with a smoke gun quick and effective, which makes treating apiaries with its help much easier. As a rule, when treating bees against mites, Varromor smoke guns are preferred by owners of large lands.

The strips have also proven effective in treating invasive bee diseases.They are small symmetrical pieces of veneer soaked in a medicinal solution. This product is fixed in a vertical position between two frames without brood. Treatment lasts from 15 days to 5 weeks and is repeated three times, in accordance with the instructions.

Treatment of varroatosis using the Gaidar method

Many beekeepers consider the method proposed by the talented scientist and beekeeper V. Gaidar to be one of the best ways to treat varroatosis. According to his method, in order to get rid of a tick, infected insects should be treated with vapors of toxic substances, such as kerosene. Using a special sprayer, steam must be introduced into the lower tap hole, combining this with exposure to high temperatures. Bees are fairly resilient insects, and, unlike mites, they are able to survive in short-term unfavorable conditions. This procedure allows you to treat even large apiaries against ticks in the shortest possible time. However, after treatment, the hives require mandatory cleaning so that the infection does not recur.

How to treat bees against mites in summer

In summer, bees are treated for varroatosis without the use of chemicals, so as not to spoil beekeeping products. At this time, you can use herbal infusions, infusions and pastes from plant components, as well as magnetic treatment. Thymol powder, which is scattered on the upper bars of the frames 2 times with an interval of 7 days, also helps well against ticks.

How to get rid of ticks during honey collection

Since thymol is of plant origin, it can be safely used for processing throughout the entire honey collection. In addition to the above-described method of treating varroatosis, you can pour the product into nylon bags and place them on the sides of the nest.Once a week, the product should be added and the crusts removed.

But it is better to refrain from using Bipin during processing. Despite the fact that Bipin, compared to its analogues, is less addictive to ticks, however, when it accumulates in honey, it can be toxic to people.

Autumn treatment of bees against varroa

As already mentioned, the most favorable period for treating varroatosis begins in autumn. For the well-being of the apiary, it is necessary to carry out a mite treatment before the bee colonies leave for the winter, otherwise the parasites will begin to loosen the club. And this, in turn, will lead to a decrease in the temperature in the hive, which can kill the bees in the cold.

When to treat bees for mites in the fall

In the fall, bees begin processing only after making sure that the last brood has come out of the cells, otherwise all actions will be in vain, since mites may remain in the combs. Varroatosis should be treated after pumping out the honey and at the end of the honey collection, so that the bees do not introduce new parasites into the hive.

How to treat bees against mites in the fall

All methods of treating varroatosis are suitable for autumn treatment, especially synthetic ones, since there is no risk of chemicals getting into the honey. To get rid of ticks use:

• solutions of Bipin, Apitaka;
• smoldering agents such as TEDA, Apivarol;
• formic and oxalic acids;
• smoke cannon;
• thermal chamber.

It would also be useful to treat bees against mites using plates.

Treating bees against varroa in the fall with plates

Plates for treatment against varroa are placed in the hive in such a way that during the summer they touch the mites on the backs of the bees and cover them with a toxic composition. It is best to attach them in front of the entrances on days when the weather is not colder than 12 ^oC: this way the product will work more effectively.

When to apply mite plates to bees in the fall

The most appropriate time to place the plates will be the period after pumping out the honey. The substance that impregnates the plate is quite toxic, so if it gets into honey it can not only spoil the product, but also cause harm to human health.

Prevention measures

Despite the fact that it is not possible to guarantee the destruction of the mite, you can try to prevent the spread of varroatosis through prevention. To protect your apiary from ticks as much as possible, you should pay attention to the following recommendations:

1. When installing hives, you should choose well-lit areas. In this case, the distance from the soil surface to the hive should be at least 25 cm.
2. It is necessary to systematically thin out the grass and clean around the hives, removing debris, dead bees and dead brood, which the bees throw out when cleaning the honeycombs.
3. Weak bee families should, if possible, be combined with stronger communities - this will protect insects not only from varroatosis, but also other diseases and disturbances in the functioning of the swarm.
4. If necessary, you can install an anti-varroa mesh in the hive. During processing, the debris and dead bees that fall on it will be isolated from healthy bees, preventing them from becoming infected. In addition, this way it is easier to remove it from the hive.

Conclusion

Although treating bees in the fall against Varroa mites is more preferable for a number of reasons, treatment of varroatosis can also be carried out in the spring and summer seasons. If you follow the recommendations for the use of medications and observe the dosage, the health of the bee colony will be restored much faster for a long time.

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