When should you treat ticks on bees? - briefly
Treat bees as soon as ticks are observed, preferably during the early foraging period before brood rearing begins. Prompt treatment prevents colony weakening and limits mite reproduction.
When should you treat ticks on bees? - in detail
Treating bee parasites should be based on measurable infestation levels, seasonal dynamics, and colony condition. Monitoring must begin early in the spring when brood rearing resumes, because the parasite reproduces within capped cells. Use a standardized method—such as alcohol wash, sugar roll, or mite‑drop board—to obtain a percentage of infested bees. If the count exceeds the established threshold (typically 3 % for weak colonies, 5 % for strong colonies), initiate control measures.
Timing considerations:
- Temperature: Apply treatments when ambient temperature stays above 15 °C (59 °F) for several consecutive days; low temperatures reduce efficacy and increase bee stress.
- Brood status: Prefer periods with a high proportion of open brood, as most products target reproducing mites within capped cells. Late summer or early autumn, when brood production declines, may require products that affect phoretic mites on adult bees.
- Honey flow: Avoid treatments that leave residues in honey during peak nectar flow. If a product is approved for use in honey, follow label‑specified withdrawal periods; otherwise, treat after the flow ends.
- Colony strength: Weak hives (low adult bee numbers, reduced brood) demand prompt intervention to prevent collapse, even at lower mite levels. Strong hives can tolerate slightly higher counts before treatment is necessary.
- Resistance management: Rotate chemicals with differing modes of action according to a documented schedule. Do not repeat the same class within a single season; alternate between miticides, organic acids, and essential‑oil products.
Typical treatment schedule:
- Spring check (mid‑April to early May) – assess mite load; treat if threshold exceeded.
- Mid‑summer evaluation (late July) – repeat monitoring; apply treatment if counts rise during peak brood rearing.
- Autumn assessment (late September) – treat before winter if mite levels remain high, using products safe for overwintering colonies.
Record each inspection and treatment in a logbook. Continuous data allow precise prediction of infestation trends and optimal intervention points, minimizing chemical use while protecting colony health.