The Varroa Mite
A beekeeper's worst enemy is the Varroa mite. Varroa destructor and Varroa jacobsoni are parasites that feed off the bodily fluids of adult bees, their pupae and lavae. You can see Varroa mites with the naked eye and they look like a small reddy brown spot on the bee's upper body. Varroa are carriers of a virus that is particularly damaging to the bees. Bees that are infected with this virus have visible wing deformities.
Varroa were first discovered in South-East Asia around 1904, but has now spread virtually worldwide, reaching the USA in 1987 and New Zealand in 2000.
The presence of Varroa has led to the virtual elimination of wild bee colonies and is a real problem for kept bees in apiaries.
When the growth of a hive population is reduced the mite population growth can overtake that of the bees and can then destroy the hive. Often, a colony will simply leave the hive under such conditions.
Varroa were first discovered in South-East Asia around 1904, but has now spread virtually worldwide, reaching the USA in 1987 and New Zealand in 2000.
The presence of Varroa has led to the virtual elimination of wild bee colonies and is a real problem for kept bees in apiaries.
When the growth of a hive population is reduced the mite population growth can overtake that of the bees and can then destroy the hive. Often, a colony will simply leave the hive under such conditions.
Varroa Mite (on the bee's back)
Using Oxalic Acid to Treat the Varroa Mite
Oxalic acid is extremely effective for the control of Varroa mites. When applied either by spraying, trickling or vaporizing, it is more than 95% effective. Following the treatment, studies have shown that the naturally occuring levels of oxalic in the bees' honey is not effected.Therefore, beekeepers do not need to worry about residue problems.
Oxalic acid should be prepared shortly before use and used immediately. Oxalic acid solutions in sugar syrup can be kept for longer periods of time if the storage temperature is lower than 5°C.
Oxalic acid should be prepared shortly before use and used immediately. Oxalic acid solutions in sugar syrup can be kept for longer periods of time if the storage temperature is lower than 5°C.
Oxalic Acid and Beekeeping Links
- Oxalic Acid
- A UK manufacturer which sells oxalic acid online.
"Did you see Jimmy?"
The Varroa Mite on TV
Jimmy and the Wild Honey Hunters - BBC 1, 10th August 2008
I watched a programme where the lovable Jimmy - better known as a pig farmer went hunting for Nepalese giant bees and more importantly their honey. He spoke about the Varroa mite and how it is afecting bee colonies all over the world.Watch the programme again on the BBc iPlayer for a limited time, or follow the link below.
Bees in the Media
- Jimmy and the Wild Honey Hunters
- An article about this very informative programme.
- Reasons Bees Matter
- An MSN article that agrees with me!
Oxalic Acid & Beekeeping Vids
Watch Oxalic Acid in Action!
This apairy owner is using the vaporising method to treat the Varroa mite.
Beekeeping - Oxalic Acid Treatment
This is my first attempt to do an Oxalic Acid Treatment. Oxalic acid is used to bleach wood and is not approved for mite treatment in the US. So I would never recomend it.... I will say that a side affect of this bleach treatment is that it did kill hundreds of mites. This method of vaporising is prefered over the trickle method because it can be done more than once a season with out causing ill effects to the bees. oxalic acid is a natural organic compound andleaves no toxic residue biuld up in the hive unlike other mitricides.
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Oxalic Acid and Beekeeping Chat
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- Party_Girl Party_Girl Aug 13, 2008 @ 8:52 am
- I saw the Giant Bees programme on BBC1, Jimmy is lush! Great lens 5* for you :)
by Chemical_Sister
Hi there! My name is Victoria, I enjoy scuba diving, speedway racing, classical music, pickled onions and a nice cup of tea. (more)
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