Tracheal Mites

Menthol Crystals

Treatment: 1.8 oz (50 grams) packet of menthol crystals in a porous bag, such as a folded paper towel.

Rate: One 1.8 oz packet per average 2-story colony.

Number of Colonies per treatment: One (average 2-story colony).

Location within Colony: Above 7O°F, place crystals on bottom board. Below 7O°F, place crystals on top of frames in top supers.

Treatment Time: Spring preferably or autumn secondly.

Treatment Duration: 14-28 days with entrance reduced, replace crystals as needed.

Comments and Suggestions: Menthol vaporization is temperature dependant. At temperatures above 7O°F, vaporization proceeds quickly; below 7O°F, vaporization proceeds more slowly. In essence, menthol treatments could stay on colonies anytime the temperature is high enough and there is no nectar flow in progress; however, this practice may be cost and labor prohibitive.

Varroa Mites

Precautions: Never have strips in colony while honey supers are on the hive or while a nectar flow is in progress.

Product: Apistan Strips

Rate: Use one strip for each 5 combs of adult bees in all deep brood chambers. Strips should never be in supers.

Exposure Time: For Survey, leave strips in the hive for 7 days.

Treatment Period: 42 - 56 days (8 weeks)

Location: In a single deep hive having 10 frames of bees, place one strip between frames 3 & 4 and between frames 7 & 8. Attach strips with staple or thumb tack. Strips also have a tab that can be used to support itself between frames.

Comments and Suggestions: Strips MUST be in contact with brood nest bees at all times for them to be effective. Though Apistan is safe, wear gloves when handling strips.

European Foulbrood

American Foulbrood (terramycin only suppresses, does not eradicate)

Precautions: Treatment should stop about 4 weeks before the main nectar flow. Product should not be fed to "cure" AFB. Product should not be put on open brood.

Dusting Treatment Procedure for all Products: Usually 3 dusting at 4-5 day intervals in spring or fall. Stop all treatments 4 weeks before main nectar flow.

(1) Product: 6.4 oz foil packet of TM25

Bulk Dose Mix: 6.4 oz foil packet of TM25 + 1.5 pounds powdered sugar.

Rate: Use 2 Tablespoons (1/8 cup) dusted on outer edges of frames per average 2-story colony.

Number of Treated Colonies: Treats about 50 colonies once.

Single Dose Mix: One teaspoon of 6.4 oz foil packet (TM95) + five teaspoons of powdered sugar.

Rate: Use 2 Tablespoons (1/8 cup) dusted on outer edges of frames per average two story colony.

Number of Treated Colonies: One

Wax Moths

Precautions: Air fumigate equipment for a few hours before placing on active colony.

Do not use naphthalene crystals.

Product: Pure Paradichlorobenzene crystals

Treatment procedure: Place 6 Tablespoons (3 oz) of PDB crystals on stacks of 5 supers. Close all openings to make stack as air tight as possible. Crystals should be placed on a paper positioned on the frame top bars. Every 2-3 weeks, add more crystals

Nosema

Precautions: Feed in fall primarily. Spring feeding is good supplement to fall feeding. Spring feeding should be stopped 4 weeks before main nectar flow.

(1) Product: 1/2 gram glass bottle

Mix: 1/2 gram glass with 5-6 gallons of 2:1 (by weight) sugar syrup mixture.

Rate: One gallon per average 2 story colony.

Number of Treated Colonies: 5-6 average 2-story colonies.