News
More and more news about dead bee colonies
Without any pathos we must admit that this situation punishes us.
Contrary to previous years, where the science fished in troubled water and said that the influence of viruses was the main cause for dead bee colonies (they examined: wing deformation virus and its transmission…), but also the use of bee incompatible fertilizer, pollen poverty, etc., we now know definitively that these are not the real reasons.
Of course, these above-mentioned problems exist, but in comparison to the German beekeepers situation and their problems with varoose, these are only the lesser of the two evils.
A mild winter 2006/07 provided ideal opportunities for the development of varoose. Some jokingly talked of varroose breeder (instead of bee breeders), and they didn’t get the seriousness of the situation, blinded by strong spring colonies and an unusually good spring harvest.
A cold summer in 2007 disabled the treatment with formic acid of the colonies in a special way, and many beekeepers waited until July with their harvest, despite of warnings of institutions (Dr. Ritter is mentioned only exemplary, who made attentive of this problem and urged for timely treatment). They began with the rehabilitation of their colonies in August.
Timely information was available:
http://www.diebiene.de/online/102422/varroa.pdf
Many of the now severely damaged colonies that achieved autumn, were in very bad conditions and the situation couldn’t be saved.
So, we all have to learn from these mistakes and consider in mind for this year:
-cut drone brood consistently (particularly effective in spring)
-harvest early -and leave the last drop of honey to the bee colonies
-We, in our beekeeping, harvest and vet on the same day, in the first week of July at the latest
-Basic rehabilitation with formic acid (85% formic acid is probably prior to approval, but is also now widely used by far-sighted beekeepers)
-Care for protection against the reinvasion. We advise the use of Thymol compounds, in combination with formic acid as a first treatment is good to use. There are effective and legitimate ways:
http://www.biovet.ch/shop/global/Imkerei/Varroa/THYMOVAR%AE::1.html
With the approved funds Thymovar (you can successfully prevent the varroose reinvasion in your colonies) and Oxuvar (to destroy mites in late autumn, easy to use), you will have varroose under control and keep it below the threshold of damage.
Held your head up and go on…, or as Al Gore would say:
Relax
Smile
Fight
Beekeeping is such a good hobby: it’s worth it!
