Sweet treat…ments

Even though my Varroa mite count is low, treating all hives at this time of year is highly recommended. Late August is critical because as the bee population begins to naturally decrease in preparation for the dormant winter season, the mite population is reaching its highest population. It’s critical that the reduced cluster of winter bees be as mite free as possible. So yesterday I did the first of three powdered sugar treatments on both my hives.

How they figured out that dusting bees with powdered sugar is an effective mite control, I have no idea, but here’s how it works. Powdered sugar makes a coated bee too slick for mites to hold onto, so they drop off the bee. Since Varroa mites reproduce in the brood cells, powdered sugar treatments are required once a week for three weeks in order to treat all emerging bees/mites. (Worker bees have a three-week gestation period.)

The powdered sugar treatment is harmless for bees. After treatment the bees simply groom each other by eating off the powdered sugar.

Here is a picture of the observation board about ten minutes after treatment. The enlarged circle above shows the mites highlighted in yellow.

There are several options for treating Varroa. We’re told it’s important to use a variety of methods because the Varroa mite is highly adaptive. Treatments that were developed not that long ago are already ineffective as Varroa continue to evolve and build up resistance. Eventually honey bees will build up natural resistance to Varroa, but unfortunately it’s a slower process.