pollinators
NY Bee Wellness Lecture videos on YouTube
Fall Survey 2016 NY Bee Wellness -now open
Randy Oliver talks about NY Bee Wellness VIDEO
Spring Survey 2016 NY Bee Wellness Results!
NY Bee Wellness Workshops- Honeybee Disease, Aug 5-7
Use of Oxalic Acid on Honey Bees
Use of Oxalic Acid on Honey Bees
- Can be used as a dribble/trickle, vapor, or spray.
- Most effective on broodless colonies
- Can be used on newly hived bees (package or swarms) within 9 days of hiving.
- Once diluted in solution, oxalic will degrade quickly. Can be refrigerated few a few days only.
- Use protective gear.
- Cannot be used when honey supers are on hive.
Randy Oliver’s page: http://scientificbeekeeping.com/oxalic-acid-questions-answers-and-more-questions-part-1-of-2-parts/
Protocol from the Canada OBA Tech Transfer Program: oxalic-acid-protocol OBA TTP
Detailed instructions: Oxalic- approved label with detailed instructions
Use only in late fall or early spring when little
or no capped brood is present. Oxalic Acid Dihydrate
might damage bee brood. Oxalic Acid
Dihydrate will not control Varroa mites in
capped brood.
Do not use when honey supers are in place
to prevent contamination of marketable
honey.
Apply only when monitoring indicates
treatment is required. Consult state
guidelines and local extension experts for
monitoring protocols and thresholds for
treatment.
December, a broodless period in the hive, is the best time for treating for mites with an oxalic dribble.
* Short videos on oxalic dribble technique:
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tpYTqqDaHI
2a) Close-up version, https://vimeo.com/84454537
Resources:
Oxalic acid A prospective tool for reducing Varroa; M. Ellis, University of Nebraska; 2009
Randy Oliver’s Power Point on Oxalic usage: http://scientificbeekeeping.com/oxalic-acid-powerpoint-presentation/
NY Bee Wellness Newsletter /Late Winter 2016 with the Fall 2015 Survey RESULTS
Fall 2015 Survey RESULTS NY Bee Wellness
The survey represents a sample of 268 non-migratory beekeepers from 56 counties in New York State.
Highlights: The average respondent started with 5 hives at the end of winter and increased their number of hives by more than 2 fold, mostly by making splits, and entering winter with 12 hives. 25% of beekeepers intended to overwinter nucs. 87% of respondents were pleased to some extent, with the 2015 honey crop.
The results may also assist those who are conducting classes for or providing mentoring to other beekeepers.
Pleasesend any comments, suggestions, or questions.
Please watch for the NY Bee Wellness Spring Survey in 2016.
NOTE: If the data does not display properly, please view the email in your browser by clicking the link in the upper right corner of this page.
Links to the regional survey results are at the bottom of the page.
- Average number of hives per beekeeper-5; Total hives- 1451
- Splits-978 Packages-435 Nucs-276 Swarms-247 Other-136
- Average number of hives per beekeeper-12; Total hives- 3251
Did Not Check | 41.79% | 112 |
Sticky Board | 19.78% | 53 |
Powdered Sugar Shake | 17.54% | 47 |
None of above | 9.7% | 26 |
Drone Brood Sampling | 8.58% | 23 |
Alcohol wash | 1.49% | 4 |
Ether Roll | 1.12% | 3 |
Q5) If you treated for mites, what treatment did you use?
Formic Acid | 47.67% | 92 |
Other | 33.68% | 65 |
Oxalic Vapor | 11.40% | 22 |
Sugar Dusting | 10.88% | 21 |
Amitraz (apivar) | 10.36% | 20 |
Thymol (Api-life Var, Apiguard, Thymovar, etc) | 9.84% | 19 |
Drone brood removal | 8.81% | 17 |
Hop Guard, HopGuard II | 7.77% | 15 |
Brood breaks | 6.74% | 13 |
Coumaphos (Checkmite) | 1.55% | 3 |
Fluvalinate (Apistan) | 1.04% | 2 |
Q6) Now that Oxalic acid is approved for use on honeybees in NY, do you plan to use the oxalic dribble/trickle method on your bees?
Yes | 23% | 58 |
Unsure | 17% | 39 |
No | 60% | 145 |
Q7) What problems did your bees have this year?
Varroa Mite | 30.22% | 81 |
Possible queen failure (lack of brood, queen cells/cups) | 29.10% | 78 |
Small Hive Beetle | 25.75% | 69 |
Other | 18.28% | 49 |
Wax Moth | 16.79% | 45 |
Late season swarms (late August –October) | 16.42% | 44 |
Nuisance animals (bear, mice, raccoon) | 11.57% | 31 |
Unknown | 9.70% | 26 |
Deformed Wing Virus | 8.96% | 24 |
Strong colony/no honey production | 8.58% | 23 |
Chalkbrood | 3.73% | 10 |
Accident (hive blew over, etc) | 3.36% | 9 |
Nosema | 1.87% | 5 |
European Foulbrood | 1.87% | 5 |
American Foulbrood | 1.12% | 3 |
Unknown brood disease | 1.12% | 3 |
Q8) Will you be overwintering nucs?
- YES, 25%
- “I used double nuc boxes and overwintered 21 of them with 0 loss”
- “last winter I stacked 5 framed deep nucs four high and wrapped with foil insulation. I read that bees might prefer a tall column to conserve heat. It seemed to work .”
- “Configuration: (2) 2 five frame nuc bodies, one on top of the other. Nucs have been fed 2:1 sugar water & will have winter pollen patties & fondant. They will be wrapped in black roofing paper.”
- “5/5 deeps 5/5/5 mediums. Healthy and heavy”
Q9) Were you pleased with this year’s honey crop?
- YES- 71%, Somewhat- 16%, NO- 13%
- “Start supporting top bar hives more. Although not ideal from a commercial honey producers standpoint, they are healthier for the bees. Since they require no chemical interference, they result in chemical-free honey and wax. Better for bees, AND better for humans”
- “As far as the Varroa mites, I made a decision to treat every hive, every year. After treating each hive 3 times at 7 day intervals, the bees were fine. I have seen no evidence of negative effects on them. So, as far as mite counts, I don’t check. I may treat in the spring as well. Some of my friends in Maine are doing this. This survey is a great idea! Thanks for doing all this!!!!”
- “Not a bad year overall, considering last year’s brutal winter”
- “As more partnerships, coalitions, and groups are formed for bee health, I feel one important part is missing. Queen rearing for improving the health of bees and beekeeping”
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Western Region: Erie, Niagara, Cattaragus, Chautauqua, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Allegheny Counties. (Albany, Jamestown)
North Central Region: Monroe, Livingston, Ontario, Yates, Wayne, Seneca, Yates Counties. (Rochester, Canandaigua)
South Central Region: Schuyler, Cayuga, Tompkins, Chemung, Steuben, Tioga, Cortland Counties. (Ithaca)
Central Region: Oneida, Onondaga, Madison, Chenango, Broome, Delaware, Otsego, Herkimer Counties. (Syracuse, Utica, Binghamton)
Northern Region: Jefferson, Oswego, Lewis, St Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Warren Counties. (Watertown)
Eastern Region: Fulton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Schenectady, Washington, Schoharie, Albany, Rensselaer Counties. (Albany)
South East Region: Greene, Columbia, Ulster, Dutchess, Sullivan, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester Counties. (Poughkepsie, Kingston)
NYC Metro Region: New York boroughs, Staten Island, Long Island