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The best way to use the nonlethal “sugar shake” technique to test a yard residential beehive for a varroa mite infestation.
Varroa mites are one of many largest threats to the well being and long-term viability of a beehive.
For these of us who preserve honeybees within the yard, it is very important do routine month-to-month checks for varroa to make sure that all is nicely along with your winged associates!
“Sugar Shake” Take a look at for Varroa Mites
On this newest video added to my playlist on beekeeping, I take advantage of what known as the “sugar shake” technique for a varroa mites test.
This technique is taught by the Institute of Meals and Agricultural Sciences on the College of Florida. (1)
The sugar shake is a nonlethal, nonharmful technique to soundly test your hive for a varroa mite infestation.
It entails 4 steps:
- Gather a half cup of bees from a brood body (ensure that the queen just isn’t on this body first).
- Coat the take a look at bees with 2 tablespoons of powdered cane sugar and allow them to sit for five minutes.
- Gently shake the sugar onto a white floor and depend the variety of dislodged mites. Three or fewer mites is taken into account a “move”.
- Safely return the take a look at bees to the hive.
Professionals
The first advantage of the sugar shake is that it’s a fast and straightforward technique for novice and beginner beekeepers to maintain tabs on the well being of the hive.
One other large plus is that the take a look at is innocent and nonlethal to the take a look at bees.
Cons
The one downside of the sugar shake technique is that it’s much less correct in humid climate.
It’s because a excessive moisture content material within the air causes the powdered sugar to clump, leading to a much less correct end result.
This draw back is well remedied by performing the take a look at inside an air conditioned constructing.
Merely seize the take a look at bees in a jar and transfer inside a climate-controlled room to conduct the rest of the take a look at.
Failed Take a look at?
If the take a look at for varroa mites fails, then remedial motion to regulate the extreme varroa mites is a good suggestion.
This video on easy methods to safely deal with a yard beehive for varroa mites offers extra particulars.
One other different is to transition to brood frames with smaller hexagonal cells, corresponding to what could be present in wild honeybee colonies. Some analysis means that this might help to short-circuit the varroa mite lifecycle with no hurt to the hive. This can be a favored method by beekeepers who espouse a hands-off technique for controlling varroa. (2)
There are different choices to contemplate for secure, nonlethal varroa management corresponding to utilizing a screened backside board (which I take advantage of). (3)
One other thought is to make selfmade pollen patties for the bees to offer additional vitamin. A robust hive is of course immune to any infestation together with varroa. That is one thing I’m going to make use of myself and will probably be overlaying in a later publish and video! (4)
(1) Institute of Meals and Agricultural Sciences on the College of Florida
(2) An Built-in Pest Administration Method to Management Varroa Mites
(3) A Meta-Evaluation Reveals That Display screen Backside Boards Can Considerably Cut back Varroa destructor Inhabitants
(4) How To Stop And Management Varroa Mites In Your Hive
