“Sugar Shake” Test for Varroa Mites

Easy methods to use the nonlethal “sugar shake” technique to examine 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 maintain honeybees within the yard, it is very important do routine month-to-month checks for varroa to make sure that all is effectively together with your winged mates!

“Sugar Shake” Check for Varroa Mites

On this newest video added to my playlist on beekeeping, I exploit what is named the “sugar shake” technique for a varroa mites examine.

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 securely examine your hive for a varroa mite infestation.

It entails 4 steps:

• Gather a half cup of bees from a brood body (be sure 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 rely the variety of dislodged mites. Three or fewer mites is taken into account a “cross”.
• 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 simple 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 disadvantage 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 definitely 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 Check?

If the take a look at for varroa mites fails, then remedial motion to manage the extreme varroa mites is a good suggestion.

This video on learn how to safely deal with a yard beehive for varroa mites supplies extra particulars.

One other various is to transition to brood frames with smaller hexagonal cells, equivalent to what could be present in wild honeybee colonies. Some analysis means that this will help to short-circuit the varroa mite lifecycle with no hurt to the hive. It is a favored strategy by beekeepers who espouse a hands-off technique for controlling varroa. (2)

There are different choices to think about for secure, nonlethal varroa management equivalent to utilizing a screened backside board (which I exploit). (3)

One other concept is to make selfmade pollen patties for the bees to offer additional diet. A powerful hive is of course proof against any infestation together with varroa. That is one thing I’m going to make use of myself and can be overlaying in a later publish and video! (4)

References

(1) Institute of Meals and Agricultural Sciences on the College of Florida

(2) An Built-in Pest Administration Strategy to Management Varroa Mites

(3) A Meta-Evaluation Exhibits That Display screen Backside Boards Can Considerably Scale back Varroa destructor Inhabitants

(4) How To Forestall And Management Varroa Mites In Your Hive