Varroatosis of bees: prevention, methods of treatment. Beekeeping for Beginners

Varroatosis is one of the most common and unpleasant diseases of bees. It is caused by the miter Varroa destructor. This arthropod is parasitic on bees, drones, uterus, larvae and pupae, feeding on their blood. As a result, insects are weakened and eventually die.

Appearance of mite

Parasitize on bees only females Varroa destructor. Male individuals do not cause any harm to insects. Fertilizing the female, they immediately die. Externally, the varroa mite resembles a small crab (1,1 mm) of brown color. The female of this parasite has a piercing-sucking oral apparatus. With his help, she pierces the chitinous cover of the bee and begins to suck blood (hemolymph). The mite of this variety multiplies very quickly, laying eggs about 0.5 mm in size.

Ways of infection

By now, almost all apiaries have families infected with this dangerous parasite. Bees can transmit varroatosis in several ways:

• When buying new families in dysfunctional farms;
• Through bees-thieves;
• Through the queen with the retinue;
• Through beekeepers;
• Through wandering bees.

How does the disease manifest itself?

The danger of varroatosis, among other things, lies in the fact that it is difficult to detect at the initial stage. The moth Varroa destructor, as already mentioned, has very small dimensions. Therefore, to notice parasites in the event that they are not yet too much bred, it is difficult. With a more severe lesion, the varroatosis of the bees can be determined by the behavior of the insects themselves. They are less active in collecting nectar and at the same time become much more aggressive and restless. In addition, they also shorten their lives.

If the beekeeper does not take measures to rid the bees of the tick, the disease will go to a deeper stage. In this case, an extremely weakened motley brood will appear in the hive. Of neglected varroatosis, among other things, can indicate a large number of ugly small bees. Some individuals from infected hives, for example, do not have wings. Another symptom of the disease is the shortened abdomen of the bees. In the final stage of varroatosis enters the 3-4th year after infection.

Effects

Take appropriate measures should begin immediately after the varroatosis of the bees is detected. The signs of this disease, therefore, are first of all the restless behavior of insects and the appearance in the hive of ugly individuals. What are the consequences of Varroa destructor infection?

The most unpleasant consequence of this disease is, of course, a significant decrease in the productivity of bees. In addition, in the fall, a sick family may not form a cube. In winter, weakened infected bees usually die of hunger. Sometimes it also happens that irritated insects, on the contrary, actively attack the food. As a result, in the spring they die because of diarrhea.

How does the disease develop?

Once in the hive, the female tick enters the cell honeycomb with the larva. After the bees seal it, it begins to actively eat. Moreover, the mite lays several eggs, from which later new females and one male come out. About a week later, the latter fertilizes his sisters and dies. The female founder and new parasites leave the cell after its opening and after 4 days begin a new oviposition.

The greatest number of parasites with varroatosis is observed in the drone brood (7-15 times more than in the bee). Life expectancy of the female in summer is about 3 months, in winter - 9.

How to determine the presence of a tick in a hive

Because Varroa destructor is very common and usually causes enormous damage to the apiary, only timely diagnosis of infection can be a guarantee of the success of such activities as beekeeping. In spring, the hives must be inspected. This will reduce the damage caused by the tick, to a minimum. Particular attention during the examination should be turned to brood. Also, make sure that the bees behave in the usual way, and in the hive there are no dead individuals. The wings of insects must be whole, healthy. The presence of bite can indicate infection.

In addition to the hive, you need to inspect the space next to it. Infected, severely weakened larvae and pupae, the bees are usually discarded.

How can I get rid of the mite's hive?

Treat varroatosis of bees in many ways. All methods can be divided into three large groups. Most often, for disposal of a hive from a tick, beekeepers use a variety of special chemical preparations. But among beekeepers there are also supporters of environmentally friendly methods. Such beekeepers treat varroatosis with natural means. There are also mechanical ways to remove parasites. For example, sometimes they get rid of ticks by placing bees in a special thermo chamber for 15 minutes (at a temperature of about 47 degrees). However, this method is very laborious, and therefore it is rarely used. Also, beekeepers sometimes cut out from the hives a drone brood. After all, it contains the largest number of ticks.

Use of chemicals

Like any other diseases of bees, varroatosis is often treated with a variety of purchased drugs. Of the special tools of this group, beekeepers usually use:

• Peritroids ("Apifit", "Apistan", "Fumisan");
• Bromopropylates ("Volbex");
• Formininy ("Bipin", "Anitraz", "Tactin").

You can buy all these funds in a specialized store called "Goods for Beekeepers" or via the Internet. One and the same drug for several years in a row can not be used on an apiary. This leads to a new mutation of the tick, resistant to this particular agent. Experienced beekeepers advise using the following treatment scheme on the apiary:

• In the beginning and middle of summer use natural means.
• In August, use "Fumisan" or "Apifit".
• In the autumn, use "Bipin" or "Tactin".

Treatment of varroatosis in the spring is usually carried out using "Apifite" (1 plate per 3 honeycombs).

It is especially difficult to clear a hive from a mite before hibernation. The fact is that at this time the females penetrate into the tergites of the bees, where they remain until the very spring. Consequently, the chemical preparations used do not have any influence on them. Therefore, in the autumn, before processing with "Bipin" or "Tactin", you should use 20% tincture of mint. The smell of this herb ticks very much. Therefore, they are activated and leave the tergites. In this case, parasites fall under the influence of the already basic drugs.

"Bipin" for bees: instructions for using the product

This drug, belonging to the group of formanins, for the control of varroatosis, beekeepers use more often than other formulations. Therefore, further we will consider what it is and how it is applied. The main active substance of "Bipin" is amitraz - a special, acting fatal for mites, poison. This drug is delivered in ampoules and is a liquid of yellowish color with an unpleasant odor (as in naphthalene).

How correctly to use "Bipin" for bees? The instruction for its use is extremely simple. For treatment, an aqueous solution of the agent is used. The latter is prepared by stirring one ampoule (0.5 ml) in a liter of pure water. The treatment is carried out by fine-watering the "streets" of the hive (10 ml per one) twice weekly.

Natural means

Like almost any other diseases of bees, varroatosis can be treated not only with the use of chemistry, but also with various kinds of natural compounds. Of the natural, safe means for getting rid of the ticks from ticks can be used:

• Formic and oxalic acids;
• Various kinds of oils (dill, fir);
• medicinal herbs.

In the sugar, laid in the hive before wintering, experts advise to add a natural remedy CAS 81, which is a decoction of wormwood and pine buds. After the bees eat it, their blood becomes bitter. As a result, mites simply refuse to eat it.

Use of oils

This method is considered quite effective, but at the same time labor-intensive. Oils for treating bees can be used different. Bee-eater can use, for example, fir cedar, pine, etc. Very often insects are treated, for example, with refined vegetable oil, mixed with a few drops of camphor or dill. This composition can really be very useful in such a matter as beekeeping. In spring, insects should be sprayed with this oil mixture, pulling out the frames beforehand, using a special sprayer. The treatment should be performed twice with an interval of 10 days. The third time oil is used in the fall, after the end of the honey harvest, spending about 2 g of the drug on the frame.

For the treatment of varroatosis, it is also possible to give the bees in the spring a top dressing with dill oil mixed into it. Sometimes beekeepers also heat the latter in a special chamber and send its vapors to a beehive using an automobile pump.

Top dressing with oil is very simple. To do this, among other things, you need a little syrup (for example, from jam). 10-15 parts of dill oil are mixed with 85-90 parts of Vaseline. Then add 2-3 ml of syrup. The resulting product is applied evenly on 2 sheets of paper. Then one of them is laid on the bottom of the hive (treatment layer up), and the second is placed on top of the frame. Dill oil can be purchased at the store or made by yourself. In the latter case, 300 grams of seeds are poured. Further they are poured with sunflower oil and insisted for a week, constantly stirring. The finished product is filtered through a folded several times gauze.

Use of oxalic acid

This tool is always available in stores "Goods for beekeepers" and is used by beekeepers very widely. Apply oxalic acid mainly for spraying. At the same time, frames are taken out of the hives. From the acid itself, 2% solution is prepared on boiled water. Consumption should be 10-12 ml of funds per frame. Carry out treatment at a temperature of not less than 16 degrees. Spray several times per season (3-4). In autumn, the treatment is done after pumping the honey and before laying the top dressing. When using oxalic acid, mites begin to fall off already on the 10th-12th day. The treatment is carried out in dry weather. Use oxalic acid for too long. With the use of this remedy for more than six consecutive years, parasites develop resistance.

Oxalic acid is allowed to be used not only for spraying, but also for fuming with hives in pairs. In this case, as with the application of dill oil, a special chamber and pump are used.

Use of herbs

Like any other disease of the bees, varroatosis can be treated with herbs. Various kinds of infusions and decoctions are used in case they want to preserve the ecological purity of honey. However, the beekeeper, who decided to use natural remedies, should bear in mind that the effectiveness of chemical products, they are much inferior (by 50%).

Treatment of bees from mites can be carried out using, for example, such means as:

• Decoction of motherwort, chamomile and calendula (boil 50 minutes). The finished liquid is mixed with sugar syrup and the bees are fed with the resulting composition. Use such a decoction usually in the fall.
• Infuse 50 g of peppers in 0.5 liters of boiled water. In such a burning liquid, you should add a little sugar syrup. This remedy is used as a top dressing in the spring.
• Twigs cherry. They simply lay out on the frames. Instead of bird cherry mushroom, you can try to expel it with the help of chopped thyme.
• Coniferous flour. It is sprayed in the spring, at a time when there is little brood in the hive.

With the use of these funds is quite difficult, but still it is possible to get rid of such a disease as varroatosis of bees. Treatment with herbs, however, is still worthwhile in conjunction with chemical preparations. This will get rid of the mite as quickly as possible.

Heat treatment

Treatment of bees from varroatosis by this method can be very effective. Heat treatment is environmentally friendly, but at the same time it is labor-intensive enough. Perform this procedure usually in the fall. It is produced as follows:

• 10 clubs of smoke from the smoke are fed to the bottom tray.
• The flaps are closed, and the hive itself is brought into the room, the air temperature is slightly higher than on the street (but not more than 12 degrees).
• A frame is taken out of the hive.
• The bees, together with the uterus, are shaken into the cassette through the funnel.
• The cassette closes. Bees need to withstand it for 15 minutes.
• The cassette is put in a heated bath. The air temperature in the room should be stable and keep at a level of 47 degrees.

During the treatment, the cassette should be rotated and shaken, preventing the bees from getting tangled. After 15 minutes, the bees are taken out from the bath. In the room where the hive was left, the cassette should be kept for another 15 minutes. Next, the insects are poured back onto the frames and set the latter in the hive. After the bees calm down, the lower chute is opened at 8 cm. After an hour, it is cut to the size required at this time of year.

If necessary, the treatment of bees from varroatosis in the bath is carried out again in the spring. Perform it at this time five days after the first flight.

Prevention

Like many other diseases of bees, curing varroatosis is quite difficult. It is much easier to try to prevent the penetration of ticks into the hive. Prevention may include the following:

• Installation in the hives of a special antivaratoat bottom;
• Cleaning on an apiary (removal of excess grass, debris, discarded brood, etc.);
• Use of special preparations (for example, means "Timol");
• Installation in beehive frames with a wax;
• Unification of weak families, etc.

Prophylaxis of varroatosis should be carried out on apiaries necessarily. In addition, the beekeeper should be sure to ensure that the bees do not become infected with all sorts of concomitant diseases carried by the tick.

Prevention of infection with viruses

Sucking the blood, the Varroa destructor mite strongly weakens the bee, as a result of which it loses its vitality and eventually dies. However, this is not the only harm caused by this parasite. So, for example, deformities in bees appear primarily due to the fact that the females of Varroa destructor infect them with all sorts of harmful microorganisms. It can be, for example, a deformed wing virus or acute paralysis.

Prevention of this kind of diseases is primarily to take measures to improve the immunity of bees. Very often, owners of apiaries use for this purpose, for example, fertilizing with coniferous infusion. Also good reviews as a means of increasing immunity, there are about the drug "Endoglyukin".

Conclusion

As you can see, varroatosis of bees - the disease is very serious. Measures to kill the tick should be taken when the first signs of infection occur. Otherwise, the beekeeper is expected not only to a huge loss associated with a strong decline in the productivity of bees. If the disease is launched, families can be completely lost.