Early Season Varroa Dusting and Top Bar Hive Check

http://www.biobees.com Dusting bees with powdered sugar is an effective way to keep Varroa infestations down to manageable levels. While not being 100% effective, it is at least non-toxic and does the bees no harm, unlike many commercial treatments manufactured from synthetic ingredients.
This video also demonstrates that checking through a top bar hive is no more difficult than checking a framed hive. When you consider how few bees are disturbed in this video, compared to what happens when you rip the top off a conventional hive, you may begin to see how suitable these hives are for beginners and experienced beekeepers alike.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• top bar hive
• powdered sugar
• varroa
• bites
• bees
• honeybees
• beekeeping
• natural beekeeping

[paprna]

Now, you can do a honey harvest right?

[biobee]

@paprna Yes, I could take surplus honey now as there is plenty of food coming in.

[avesterfelt]

Just a thought but with the screened bottom, couldn't you just puff it up through the bottom without opening the top?

[beesontoastful]

@NickTankTV3 NO - powdered sugar works by clogging the sticky pads on the feet of the mites, causing them to lose their hold on bees. It also causes bees to groom each other, which dislodges more mites. Sugar syrup would most likely stick mites more firmply to bees.

[beesontoastful]

@arcitejack Thanks for your encouragement - and good luck with your bees!

[beesontoastful]

@finnbass You can find this one-handed puffer on ebay - search on 'barbers talc puffer'.

[NickTankTV3]

If its warm enough can I use Sugar Syrup instead of powdered sugar? or will it not give the same effect?

[arcitejack]

phil, you are my hero. just got back from my local bee club and we spent 2 hours discussing the need for chemicals in our hives. this insanity has to stop. i've built my TBH as per you book that i bought and will start in a few days with the bees. we need to break free from the use of chemicals and TBHs are the beginning. we are getting wiped out here in the states and these old timers want to throw more chemicals at it! keep on going phil.

[finnbass]

Good video Phil, very helpful. I was also planning on doing my hives this weekend:)

Where did you get the sugar puffer from?