In the off chance you haven’t seen this video, prepare to be amazed. After watching it dozens of times, I’m still mesmerized. The video, shot by David Peck of Cornell University, shows a Varroa mite hanging out on a composite flower. She is alone and can’t see. But as soon as a honey bees lands […] Read more
Last week I reminded readers that an oxalic acid dribble was a viable alternative to vaporization. I also said that, personally, I was unwilling to purchase and store all the paraphernalia that is required, such as the vaporizer, 12-volt battery, and respirator. After all, I keep a small apiary that never exceeds 15 hives. For […] Read more
In the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, August is a critical time for mite management. Every year I find it hard to think about mites during spring and summer since they are nearly invisible. At that time of year, nearly 90% of all mites hide within the capped brood cells, out of sight and […] Read more
At first I thought this story was unusual. Debbie, a newer beekeeper who reported the incident to me, explained that she accompanied a seasoned beekeeper to his apiary to learn about applying oxalic acid with a vaporizer. Here is her story, edited for brevity: The one hive caught fire. It was hectic trying to get […] Read more
Considering they have only stubby little legs—and no wings, fins, or driver licenses—Varroa mites have no trouble getting around. In fact, they have an entire public transport system built and maintained by the very host they parasitize. Seems unfair, doesn’t it? While many routes of migration from colony to colony have been documented, some are […] Read more
Those treasured folks who comment on my site often force me to re-visit an issue. Sometimes they alter my thinking, sometimes they reinforce it, and sometimes they send me in new directions. The careful re-inspection of an issue can be both illuminating and humbling. In an earlier post called “Absconding bees or death by Varroa?,” […] Read more
This past fall, I received many reports and questions about absconding bees, perhaps fifty in all. Every year I get these and I must admit that I’ve always taken the beekeepers’ word for it when they said their bees absconded. But this year I realized the sheer number of reports was off-kilter somehow. Yes, honey […] Read more