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Varroa Control
Colony Loss Survey
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

An Integrated Approach to Controlling Varroa
 
There is now plenty of evidence that resistance to Bayvarol™ and Apistan™ has reached Buckinghamshire. Many failures of control were reported last year and we must now rely on other methods of controlling Varroa mites.
 
By using a combination of treatments at the right time of year,  very effective control can be achieved.

Our Regional Bee Inspector,  Ian Homer,  has given us permission to reproduce here the notes and worksheets he uses in his workshops on Varroa Control using Integrated Pest Management.  There are a number of worksheets which describe each of the techniques in detail.  The worksheets can be downloaded as “PDF” files, click the mouse over the the worksheet numbers in the table below to view the documents.
 
 

What are we aiming for?

An integrated strategy is guided by three principles:

  1. Methods used should aim to control mite levels,  not eradicate them.
  2. Mite levels below the treatment threshold should not be controlled.
  3. Chemical treatments should be the last method used,  not the first.

How can we achieve this?

    • Monitor mite levels regularly throughout the season
    • Determine if treatment is needed
    • Use one or more if these methods if treatment is indicated. 

 

Treatment

Time of year

Effectiveness

Worksheet

Open Mesh Floors

All year

10% - 20%

Worksheet No. 11

Drone Brood Culling

April to July

Up to 50%

Worksheet No. 14

Artificial Swarming

May to July

Figures not available but considered to be very effective

Worksheet No. 15

Queen Caging

Mid May to Mid July

Up to 95%

Worksheet No. 17

Apiguard

Mid July to September

74% to 99%,  temperature dependent.

Worksheet No. 13

Bayvarol™ or Apistan™

August to October

Now less effective due to the build up of resistance

 


Defra has produced an excellent booklet on Managing Varroa.  A copy of this can be downloaded from their web site by clicking on this link > download “Managing Varroa”

 
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