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Nanny Ogg Guard Bee
Joined: 24 Mar 2017 Posts: 50 Location: Denmark, Fredericia
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 6:34 am Post subject: DWV detected - what to do? |
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Hi fellow beeks,
I just detected a handful of bees crawling around outside one of my hives. They had very deformed wings.
I am of course going to do a check of the hive and I'll also be doing a mite count.
Here in Denmark we've had 16 weeks of dry and very warm weather since April. Only in the last week did we get some rain and cooler temperatures.
I'm guessing the hot summer may have been beneficial to the mites as humidity has been very low.
I am in doubt about how to treat. And have seen in Facebook groups that some people wouldn't treat if it's only a few affected bees. Rather trusting it to work itself out.
However, I only have to hives and I need to check the other one as well of course. Maybe I should let the mite count decide.
What are your recommendations? |
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Barbara Site Admin
Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 1857 Location: England/Co.Durham/Ebchester
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 11:14 am Post subject: |
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A few years ago I had an outbreak of DWV in one of my strongest hives. I assumed it must be varroa as my previous experience with the disease had all been vectored by a high varroa infestation. I wasn't able to do a mite drop count and was not aware of a sugar roll test at the time, so I did a shook swarm into a new hive. It was a huge mistake which I believe eventually caused the demise of that colony, although it took over a year to eventually peter out, but they never recovered from my actions. When I opened the brood, there was no huge varroa infestation, in fact I found hardly any. Two more hives started showing DWV shortly afterwards. I did not take any action and they survived and built up quickly the following year and were some of the first to swarm.
I would not panic until you have the result of your mite drop count..... DWV and varroa do not necessarily go hand in hand these days. |
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Nanny Ogg Guard Bee
Joined: 24 Mar 2017 Posts: 50 Location: Denmark, Fredericia
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 11:24 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for your support. I'll try to keep a cool head and start with the mite count. |
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Quality Top Bar Hives by Andrew Vidler
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Conserving wild bees
Research suggests that bumble bee boxes have a very low success rate in actually attracting bees into them. We find that if you create an environment where first of all you can attract mice inside, such as a pile of stones, a drystone wall, paving slabs with intentionally made cavities underneath, this will increase the success rate.
Most bumble bee species need a dry space about the size a football, with a narrow entrance tunnel approximately 2cm in diameter and 20 cm long. Most species nest underground along the base of a linear feature such as a hedge or wall. Sites need to be sheltered and out of direct sunlight.
There is a spectacular display of wild bee hotels here
More about bumblebees and solitary bees here
Information about the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
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