How to treat a bee mite? - briefly
Apply a registered miticide—such as oxalic‑acid vaporization, formic‑acid strips, or thymol‑based treatments—according to label instructions and synchronize applications with the brood cycle. Monitor mite counts with a sugar‑roll or sticky‑board assay to verify control success.
How to treat a bee mite? - in detail
Effective control of the parasitic mite that attacks honey bees requires an integrated approach combining monitoring, chemical, biological, and mechanical measures.
First, assess infestation levels by sampling adult bees from the brood nest. Collect 300‑500 individuals, shake them in a water‑alcohol solution, and count mites under a microscope. A threshold of 3 % (≈10 mites per 300 bees) signals the need for intervention.
Chemical options include synthetic acaricides such as fluvalinate, coumaphos, and amitraz. Apply these products according to label directions, rotating active ingredients every treatment cycle to prevent resistance. Use the minimum effective dosage and limit applications to two per season.
Organic alternatives rely on naturally derived substances. Oxalic acid vaporisation (5 % solution) is effective during brood‑free periods; apply 1 ml per colony, repeating after seven days. Formic acid pads (15 % concentration) penetrate capped brood; place one pad per hive for ten days, monitoring temperature to avoid queen loss. Thymol strips (10 % thymol) can be used in warm climates, replacing strips every 14 days.
Mechanical strategies reduce mite load without chemicals. Perform brood interruption by removing and freezing or incubating frames for 24 hours, then returning them to the hive, disrupting the mite’s reproductive cycle. Install screened bottom boards to allow mites to fall through and be collected on sticky trays. Use powdered sugar dusting (50 % sugar) on adult bees; shake the colony and collect dislodged mites in a tray.
Biological control involves introducing predatory mites (e.g., Stratiolaelaps spp.) that feed on the pest. Maintain hive humidity at 70 % and temperature at 30 °C to support predator activity. Regularly replenish predator populations each spring.
Additional cultural practices enhance overall colony health. Provide ample protein and carbohydrate resources, replace queen cells every 1‑2 years, and ensure adequate ventilation to lower stress, which indirectly reduces mite reproduction.
A typical treatment schedule might be:
- Spring: Oxalic acid vaporisation after first full brood break.
- Early summer: Formic acid pads for 10 days, monitor temperature.
- Mid‑summer: Thymol strips if temperatures exceed 25 °C.
- Late summer: Powdered sugar dusting, followed by screened bottom board cleaning.
- Autumn: Fluvalinate or amitraz rotation, respecting maximum two applications per year.
Document each intervention, noting dates, dosages, and observed mite counts. Adjust future protocols based on recorded efficacy to maintain low infestation levels while minimizing chemical exposure.