Sugar dusting method for varoa mite controll
Dowda method
THIS IS A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO CONTROLL VARROA MITES IN HONEYBEE COLONIES
IT WORKS BY COVERING BEES IN SUGAR DUST WHICH CREATES PROBLEMS FOR MITES GRIPPING
TO BEES AND PROMOTES GROOMING AMONGST THE BEES WHICH KNOCKS MITES TO BOTTOM
OF HIVE TO BE REMOVED BY YOU.
THE ONLY DRAWBACKS I HAVE NOTICED ARE THAT IT IS NOT EASY TO APPLY
IN WET WEATHER AND UNSEALED BROOD MAY BE DAMAGED.
IT WILL ALSO NEED TO BE APPLIED WEEKLY FOR 4 WEEKS
LONGER IF MITES PERSIST
YOU WILL FIRST NEED A SCREENED BOTTOM BOARD AVAILABLE FROM
DADANT
THIS DOES NOT WORK WELL OR POSSIBLY AT ALL WITHOUT IT
NOTICE CARDBOARD "TRAY" UNDER SCREEN AND ON TOP OF ORIGINAL BOTTOM BOARD
MOVE HIVE BODY BACK IN PLACE OVER SCREENED BOTTOM BOARD
NOTICE POWERED SUGAR PALE
I DONT TRY USING A SIFTER I JUST USE HANDFULLS OF SUGAR YOU WILL BE TRYING TO COVER AS MANY
BEES AS POSIBLE AND HEAPING SUGAR ALONG FRAMES TO CREATE A AVALANCH AFFECT INSIDE
THE HIVE AS BEES MOVE AROUND THEY WILL KNOCK MORE SUGAR DOWN ON EACH OTHER
PROLONGING THE DUSTING AND INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS.
PLACE TOP BOX BACK ON AND DUST BEES IN TOP AS WELL I USE ABOUT 3/4 POUND OF SUGAR
PER TREATMENT PER HIVE
PUT LID BACK ON AND GIVE A FEW SMALL THUMPS ON LID WITH FIST OR HAMMER
IT SEEMS LIKE THIS HELPS SPREAD THE SUGAR
SUGAR THAT FALLS THROUGH WITH MITES CAN BE REMOVED VIA THE TRAY
MITES COULD BE COUNTED AND REMOVED AFTER ONLY 15 MINUTES BUT WILL
CONTINUE TO DROP FOR HOURS