Powder Sugar Treatment, Test 2

Using confectioner's sugar to treat mites. The goal is to develop this method into a quick treatment that is organized.

I have made a screen applicator (window screen attached to a Imrie Shim) and use a show polishing brush to sweep the sugar through the screen. The application is made BELOW any supers but above brood area. I do not break apart the brood area but apply above the entire brood area.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Bee
• Mite
• Varroa
• Destructor
• Sugar
• Treatment
• Carriage
• House
• Farm
• Beekeeping
• Keeper
• SWOBA
• South
• Western
• Ohio

[CarriageHouseFarm]

It knocks down 85 to 95 % of all exposed mites. Note the use of the word "exposed".

Studies done so far show it simply keeps the mites at bay, not really reducing them but keeping their levels from exploding.

I now no longer treat at all.

I may use this method, using the bellows to knock off mites prior to shaking bees into a queen castle to avoid carrying more mites into a mite free empty comb.

[CarriageHouseFarm]

I have not found powder sugar treatments to cause robbing. The bees normally remove the sgar or it sifts through the bottom.

I'll argue that combined with something like drone frames, its far better than type of hard chemical treatment and great for knocking back exposed mites prior to splitting.

In the end we should be doing no treatments at all and focusing on bees that coexis with mites. Anything else is simply continuing the problem.

[chan108dra]

The method I use is powder sugar and brushing into each frame use more if needed, ,however the key point is you have used vegetable oil tray under the screened bottom board,after brushing powder sugar is done give 40 minutes or so check the oil tray and you will see SHB ,and mites.change every 4 weeks.

[slacker361]

how successful has this treatment been? and that is just straight powdered sugar?

[peacelovechocolate]

Fascinating. I like this method. What have been your results, and over what period of time? Thanks for taking the time.

[screamingcockatoo]

I put my sugar in a cheese cloth and "poofed" it down into the frames.