VARROA MITE

[COLVIN]

I DID A 24 HOUR MITE DROP TEST USING A STICKEY BOARD AND FOUND 200+ MITES.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO NOW. WOULD GREASE PATTIES HELP AT THIS POINT? THE TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO DROP TO 32 DEGREES OR LESS BY WEEKEND. I HAD GREASE PATTIES ON UNTIL I HAD A PROBLEM WITH HIVE BEETLE AND I TOOK THEM OFF IN EARLY NOVEMBER.- COLVIN

[Finsky]

Do you have brood in your hive? Or have you winter, summer or what?

Do they bring pollen in? It is mark of brood.

[Michael Bush]

>I DID A 24 HOUR MITE DROP TEST USING A STICKEY BOARD AND FOUND 200+ MITES.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO NOW. WOULD GREASE PATTIES HELP AT THIS POINT?

Grease patties are for Tracheal mites, not Varroa mites.

>THE TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO DROP TO 32 DEGREES OR LESS BY WEEKEND. I HAD GREASE PATTIES ON UNTIL I HAD A PROBLEM WITH HIVE BEETLE AND I TOOK THEM OFF IN EARLY NOVEMBER.

I'd rig up an oxalic acid evaporator and treat them with that.

[gsferg]

If you're dropping 200 mites in 24 hours this time of year, chances are your hive won't make it to spring if you don't do something quickly. Oxalic acid is by far your best choice. With that many mites dropping, your bees must be raising brood. Trickling OA, though fast and easy will kill any open brood. Vaporizing is your best bet, do it once a week for 3 weeks. Doing it right takes a bit of practice, and a lot of care so as not breath the fumes. It's not without risks. Use common sense.

Good luck.

George-