FIGHT AGAINST VARROA WITH ALTERNATIVE WAYS

The varroa mite is a carrier of the American foulbrood, feather deformation virus, chronic paralysis virus, seeds of nosema and ascospheara.
The region of origin of Varroa parasite is South-East Asia.
In Greece, he came through Turkey in 1978.

VARIOUS TECHNIQUES

THE DRONECELLS THE TRAP FOR VARROA

It is known that from 50 to 60 dronecells, an equal number of varroas occurs in thousand workerscells. So, we put a wired box without the honeycomb at the edgeof the pollennest. The bees will build dronecells in order to take them of and destroy them when they have been sealed for 20 days.
Now, because the varroa prefers the old honeycombs, we split a little above the middle of the box with a lath. The bottom is only wired, while the upper side is filled with normal honeycombleaves on top.

WITH SMOKE

In the smoker we lay leaves of pistachia lentiscus, the varroa get dizzy and fall from the bees. But we should place a cardboard soaked with a slightly sticky substance (petroleum jelly) in the bottom of the hive to trap the parasites there and throw them away.

WINTER FINELY CHOPPED POWDERSUGAR

30 grams in the double bee-hive, 15 grams per floor.
In order not to have clots it is good to filter it through a screen. Apply at regular intervals, once a week, at noon so that there is not much humidity in the atmosphere. Most of the quantity goes above the brood nest between the frames. At the bottom of the hive you put cardboard soaked in petroleum jelly to trap the varroas and throw them away.

ORGANIC ACIDS - OXALIC ACID DIHYDRATE

In one liter of warm water we dissolve 30 grams of oxalic acid. we spray on each side of the honeycomb 3-4 ml at the end of October when there is no brood and the ambient temperature is above 18℃.
Efficiency is 97%.

EVAPORATION THROUGH HEATING

There is a device with electrical resistance connected to a 12V car battery and ends up on a small platform where we place one gram of oxalic acid powder per bee-hive. Once we have inserted the platform into the bottom of the comb, about halfway through, we close the entrance with a cloth, connect the circuit for about three minutes. But we leave the beehive closed for ten minutes and then remove the cloth. Efficiancy is 96%. There must be no brood. It is important that the beekeeper wears a good mask so as not to inhale the smoke.

METHOD OF INSTILLATION

Dissolve 3.5% oxalic acid dihydrate in 1: 1 syrup (1 kg of sugar, 1 liter of water). To make the solution properly warm the water, add the oxalic acid and then the sugar.
In each corridor between the frames, drip with a 5 ml syringe over the bees. Do it between December and January at a temperature of 5℃ to 12℃. This is done only once per hive. If a solution is left over, throw it away: it should not be reused.

MOBILE BASE WITH SCREEN

So thevarroas that fall down are trapped and will not return to the bees.