Recommended Chemical Control Treatments
for Honey Bee Diseases and Pests
HYG-2163-97
Dr. James E. Tew
Important
No other chemical compounds other than those listed in this leaflet
are approved for use in bee hives.
Always follow label instructions for handling and applying any
chemical in the bee hive. Dispose of waste chemicals as directed on
the label instructions.Never have any type of disease or pest
treatment program underway while surplus honey supers are on the
colonies.
Tracheal Mites
Precautions: Treatments should not be in colony 4 weeks prior to
honey flow. Allow vapors a short time to dissipate before working a
treated colony. Menthol crystals should be tightly sealed and stored
under refrigeration.
Pure Menthol Crystals
(1) Vegetable Shortening Patties
Precautions: As a matter of principle, don't have patties, or any
other medications, on during a nectar flow. Always follow label
instructions.
Vegetable Shortening (eg. Crisco™)
Ratio: One part vegetable shortening to 2 parts white granulated
sugar. Patty size should be about one-half pound (size of
hamburger).
Exposure Time: Continuous (except during nectar flow). Replace as
often as needed. Most effective during spring and autumn.
Location within the colony: On broodnest top bars
Comments and Suggestions:
Vegetable shortening appears to disrupt the life cycle of the
tracheal mite, thus suppressing mite populations. Vegetable
shortening patties are considered to be more effective in
controlling mites in Ohio than menthol. However, menthol is still
useful. Vegetable patties with terramycin is useful in controlling
American Foulbrood. Refer to the factsheet on American Foulbrood for
specific recommendations.
(2) Menthol:
Menthol is available in bulk quantities or in 1.8-ounce (50 grams)
packets from most major bee suppliers. Treat only over-wintered
colonies having no surplus honey intended for human consumption.
Colonies should be treated in the fall or early spring when daytime
temperatures are expect to be above 60°F but not over 95°F.
Treatment must end one month before the first nectar flow to avoid
contaminating marketable honey. Use one menthol pact per hive, on
top bars in temperatures up to 80°F. Above 80°F, place the packet on
the bottom board. Treat for 14 to 28 days with an entrance-reducer
on the hive. Replace the menthol as needed during the treatment
period.
Precautions: Treatments should not be in colony 4 weeks prior to
honey flow. Allow vapors a few minutes to dissipate before working a
treated colony. When stored, menthol crystals should be tightly
sealed and refrigerated.
Product: Pure 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
(2) Product: One pound of TM25
Mix: One pound of TM25 + 3-3/4 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 125 colonies once.
(3) Product: One pound of TM5O
Mix: One pound of TM5O + 7.5 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 250 colonies once.
(4) Product: Antibiotic Extender Patty
Mix: 1/3 pound vegetable shortening + 2/3 pound granulated sugar +
two tablespoons of TM25
Rate: 1/2 pound pound patty per average 2-story colony.
Number of Treated Colonies: Patty mixture treats about two 2-story
colonies.
Wax Moths
Precautions: Air fumigate equipment for a few hours before placing
on active colony.
Do not use moth balls (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.
(2) Product: 2 gram glass bottle
Mix: 2 gram bottle with 23-24 gallons of 2:1 (by weight) sugar syrup
mixture.
Rate: One gallon per average 2-story colony.
Number of Treated Colonies: 23-24 average 2-story colonies.
(3) Product: 9.5 gram glass bottle
Mix: 9.5 gram bottle with 115-120 gallons 2:1 (by weight) sugar
syrup mixture.
Rate: One gallon per average 2-story.
Number of Treated Colonies: 115-120 average 2-story colonies.
Comments and Suggestions: (1) Mix sugar syrup with heated water and
allow to cool before adding Fumadil-B. (2) Add Fumadil-B powder
mixture to a small amount of sugar solution for mixing. The
medicated mixture should then be added to the bulk sugar mixture and
thoroughly blended.
|
