Ways to Prevent Bee Mites

One of the best ways to prevent bee mites is to test your colonies for mites. To do this, you should check at least eight colonies in each yard. If you find a colony with mites, you should prepare an action plan. Keep in mind that mites can spread to other colonies.

Screened bottom boards

Screened bottom boards for hives can be beneficial for beekeepers who are concerned about mites. Beekeepers should not leave the screens open during the winter, because tiny beetles can squeeze through them and walk through the wires. Besides, they can make the hive cold. Bees maintain their body heat by vibrating their wing muscles and will avoid getting too cold in the winter.

Using a screened bottom board can reduce mite infestation by up to 20%. It also helps ventilate the hive during warmer months and prevent moisture buildup during the winter. A screened bottom board also makes the hive cleaner than one with a solid bottom board.

Another great feature of a screened bottom board is that it helps keep bees cooler during transportation. The screened bottom board allows fresh air to enter the hive and kill varroa mites that live in the hive. The mites are also killed when they fall through the screened bottom board.

Another great benefit of a screened bottom board is that it provides great ventilation for beehives. Moreover, a screened bottom board is useful for preventing the infestation of wax moth larva and varroa mite. These pests are responsible for many honey bee diseases and viruses. Chemical treatments have become the most common method for mite control, but there are also several natural ways to manage the problem.

Although there are many studies that show that screen bottom boards are effective, many of these studies have not shown a statistically significant difference. However, some studies show a negative impact, although the effect is small. Overall, the effect size was -1.09 with a 95% confidence interval.

If a screened bottom board isn’t an option, a corrugated plastic sheet can be used instead. Some people even slide a plastic sheet through the front entrance as the weather cools. This is not as revealing as a drawer under a screen, but it does reduce the entrance area.

Studies have shown that screening the bottom of a hive with a screened bottom board is effective for mite control. These boards can be effective alone or in combination with other mite control methods. Researchers found that screen bottom boards alone or with soft chemicals significantly reduced the mite population.

In addition to preventing mites, a screened bottom board can also be helpful for beekeepers. The screened bottom board prevents adult bees from transferring mites to the hive. This board helps beekeepers estimate the number of mites in the hive and helps them decide if miticides should be applied to the hive.

When selecting a bottom board, consider the climate and type of hive you plan to use. Those living in humid areas might want solid bottom boards. However, those in dry climates should opt for screened bottom boards. They also provide more ventilation for the bees.

Bee mites are a real threat to beekeepers, so prevention is necessary. The most effective way to reduce the mites in a beehive is to prevent them from getting into the colony. Luckily, the prevention of mites is not difficult. All you need is a little diligence.

Oil extender patty

Beekeepers can control the spread of tracheal mites by using an oil extender patty, which is an oil mixture of vegetable oil and sugar that smothers the mites. The patty is applied to beehives during early spring or fall. Alternatively, the bees can be treated with different chemicals, such as formic acid.

The best way to apply the patty is to place it near the brood. Place the patty near the brood on the top bars of a single or double-brood chamber hive, and avoid placing it near the honey flow. The patty should be removed every few weeks, and the bees should not be exposed to it during the time of harvesting honey or pollen.

Beekeepers can also use essential oils, such as wintergreen and tea tree, to control the mites. These oils can help reduce the population of Varroa mites. However, these oils should not be used during the collection of honey for human consumption. If you use essential oils in your grease patties, they will be more effective in controlling mites in two ways. First, the grease patties will get all over the bees and make their skin a slippery surface. This makes it difficult for mites to latch onto them.

Another effective way to control bee mites is by applying peppermint essential oil on the hive frames. This treatment can be used as a preventative measure during winter. Bees are especially susceptible to Varroa mites during winter and rainy seasons. Essential oil treatments can prevent mite infestation in honey bees and other insects in the hive.

Essential oils are obtained from plants and contain anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-microbial properties. These oils are applied to bee hives to keep mites away and attract potential pollinators. These oils are much cheaper and safer alternatives to Apistan and Apivar. They can also last longer than the latter two products. And unlike Apistan, essential oils do not cause the mites to spread.

Another essential oil treatment for bee mites is lemongrass oil, which can be used as a natural supplement to a patty. Lemongrass helps prevent tracheal mites by inhibiting their ability to pass into the beehive. In addition, lemongrass and wintergreen oil have anti-bacterial properties and can be applied to the hive to help improve its health.

Bee mite control with essential oils is important for the survival of the hive. Wintergreen oil is particularly effective at reducing Varroa mite populations. Beekeepers who use wintergreen oil on their hives often apply it in a grease patty. But be careful not to use essential oils if the bees have their honey supers on the hive.

The oil extender patty is a good all-around food for bees and contains essential minerals and carbohydrates that help control the Varroa and Tracheal Mite populations. The oil extender patty can be stored in the freezer until needed. Once it’s needed, the patties can be thawed out and fed to the honey bees.

Bee mites can attack worker and drone bees and can even damage the queen. This is a common issue, but using oils can help keep them in check. The use of essential oils is effective for all three species of bees, and it is highly recommended for any beekeeper.

The use of menthol is also a good way to control the mite population. It is sold at most bee supply companies. The vapor of this oil desiccates the mites. However, be careful not to use it during the honey flow because it may contaminate honey.