Enlisting Herbal Help to Repel Bee Mites Thyme is reported to be a varroa mite deterrent, so consider planting thyme around your apiary. Thymol which is derived from thyme is an ingredient in both Apilife Var and ApiGuard, two commercial products that are safe for use inside the hive as a varroa mite treatment.
How do you prevent varroa mites?
For varroa mite control and prevention, cultural controls include purchasing mite-resistant honey bee stock, providing small cell comb, and providing a brood break.
- Resistant Stock.
- Small cell comb.
- Brood break.
- Mite trapping.
- Screened bottom board.
- Powdered sugar.
- Soft Chemicals.
- Hard Chemicals.
What attracts Varroa?
Palmitic acid released from honeybee worker larvae attracts the parasitic mite Varroa jacobsoni on a servosphere.
Does powdered sugar work for Varroa mites?
Dusting of powdered sugar is done in combination with the sticky board or a screen bottom board. Powdered sugar does not kill the varroa mites, but causes the mites to drop to the bottom. If there is not a sticky board placed on the bottom, the mites will crawl back up to reinfest.
What does thyme do for bees?
Thyme is a woody, herbaceous perennial herb, and like many herbs, it’s popular with bees and other pollinators. Not only do thyme flowers provide nectar and pollen, research shows that some Thymus species may help protect bees against diseases.
What do Varroa mites hate?
Mint and thyme essential oils have shown a lot of efficiency in killing Varroa mites. In their pure form, and unmixed with any other chemical, these oils cause mites to fall off honey bees and not climb back. The use of these two essential oils is safe for beekeepers even when they have honey supers on their beehives.
Does anything eat Varroa mites?
scimitus is a potential predator of phoretic Varroa mites. This hypothesis is supported by the use of the predatory mite to control hematophagous mites in infested animals [40, 46] and the few anecdotal reports by beekeepers of Varroa population reductions.
Where do bees pick up Varroa mites?
Mites are attracted to the pheromones of bees, so it seems far-fetched that a mite would jump off a bee onto a flower and wait for another bee to arrive. However, if a varroa-laden bee lands on a flower and begins to groom, it is possible that she will dislodge a mite.
What is the lifespan of a varroa mite?
2 months
Adult female Varroa mites usually live for 2 months, but can overwinter between the sclerites (the hardened plates of the exoskeleton) of adult honey bees.
How do you treat bees for mites naturally?
Use 20-25 drops of Thyme oil in 16 ounces of mineral oil if use a fogger for mite control. Walk by the landing board and put the fogger into each hive for 8 to 10 seconds and then move on to the next hive.
Where do Varroa mites come from?
Varroa is an invasive species that originated in Asia where the Asian honey bee, Apis cerana Fabr. was the host. The mite does little harm to A. cerana colonies and maintains a stable host-parasite relationship largely because mite reproduction occurs in drone brood, that comprises <5% of the colony's brood population.
When should I use oxalic acid on bees?
Oxalic acid is still a useful tool for beekeepers to keep Varroa levels under control. OA is the best tool to use when colonies are broodless. For example, it can be applied to new packages, and it is often used with success to clean up mites in the fall after bees have stopped brood rearing.
Where do Varroa mites attach?
honey bees
The varroa mite is a tiny external parasite which attaches itself to the surfaces of honey bees and feeds on hemolymph (blood).
Is rosemary good for bees?
Rosemary
Pluck fresh needles from this drought-tolerant herb all year round. Its flared blue-purple flowers attract mason bees, flower bees, bumblebees and honeybees.
What herbs do bees like best?
With its beautiful purple flowers and strong scent, sage attracts many pollinators and bumblebees in particular. As well as common sage (Salvia officinalis), crested sage (Salvia viridis) and the clary sage (Salvia sclarea) are particularly bee friendly herbs.
Is mint good for honey bees?
Bees and other beneficial insects absolutely love mint flowers, and it doesn’t matter if it’s peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint, apple mint, or catmint (also known as catnip), horsemint, wild mint, or even lemon balm (which is also in the mint family).
How do I prevent mites in my beehive?
Powder sugar dusting helps control mites by causing the mites to lose their grip. Dusting one cup of powdered sugar between frames once a week for three weeks is most effective. Breaking the queen’s brood cycle helps controls mites by reducing bee brood where mites reproduce.
What temperature kills Varroa mites?
It has been known for decades that the only weakness of the Varroa mite is its considerable sensitivity to increased temperature. If we expose the mite to the temperature of 40°C (104°F) to 47°C (116.6°F) for around 150 minutes, the mite is killed.
Does mineral oil work for Varroa mites?
Beekeeper testimonials from various countries indicate that food grade mineral oil (FGMO) provides effective control of Varroa.
What is the best varroa mite treatment?
Treatment of Varroa Mites
- Apistan Strips. Active Ingredient: Fluvalinate. Recommended Dosage: One strip for every five frames.
- Apiguard. Active Ingredient: Thymol. Recommended Dosage: Two treatments of one foil pack every two weeks.
- Mite Away Quick Strips. Active Ingredient: Formic acid.
Do bumble bees get varroa mites?
Bumblebees do not carry the varroa mite, but the scientists found that those infected with DWV had a dramatically shortened lifespan. The fungal parasite has also been shown to have an impact on bumblebee longevity.