Smite the Mite

Now as part of the winter "tuck-up" any surviving varroa mites must
be ELIMINATED!!!
The mites that ride on our honey bees, like tiny jockeys, are the species
Varroa destructor.  It is doubtful that any colonies are free of this parasite,
the adults and young of which feed on the blood (haemolymph) of the bees.
They reproduce by laying their eggs in the wax cells containing bee larvae.
A colony of bees can support a very high mite population.
The real problem comes from the diseases they pass on.  For this reason the
colonies need treatment.  Unfortunately the mites in many regions have become
resistant to the commonly used pyrethroids.  The only other legally allowed
treatment in UK is  thymol based, which causes the mites to let go and fall off.
Obviously treatments like this can only be applied when the honey crop has
been taken out of the hive.
So...................................... now is the time.
There are other ways of keeping the mite population down throughout the year.
which are less effective but do not use chemicals.
Got to go - to watch Derren Brown (Svengali) on Ch4 - !!
XXQBXX
More "tucking up" tips to come.
PS A mite on a honey bee is proportionately like a large dinner plate on your back.