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Re: [SG] Wild Honeybees

From Dr. Dewey Caron, University of Delaware

Dear Dan - there are two mites to be concerned about. The Varroa mite is a
large reddish mite you can see on the bees or living in brood cells.  It is
controlled by the insecticide Apistan.  Some beekeepers are using other
materials such as essential oils, mineral oil, grease patties and formic
acid for control but these materials are less effective (and some not very
effective at all). Beekeepers dislike using insecticides inside their
colonies (including myself) but you risk loosing a colony if not used.
The second mite is the tracheal mite. It lives inside the breathing
tubes of bees and is not visible without a microscope. The material for
control is menthol which is a fumigant.  It must be added to colonies
earlier enough for effective control.  Other beekeepers use grease patties
and essential oils but neither work as well as menthol. Both apistan and
menthol should be used on colonies after any honey crop is removed. Hope
this information helps.

Good Luck,

Dr Caron
----------------------------------------------------------
Dr Dewey Caron was one of my entomology teachers. If you don't watch him he
always steers the conversation towards bees.
Dan Nelson
Bridgeville DE
zone 7
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