Alcohol Washes, January, 2007

On January 10th, a week after the treatment, Formic Acid hive # 6 showed 4 mites, down 16 mites from the pre-treatment count of 20. Two of the four mites found were floating on the top of the Alcohol, indicating these mites were already dead, probably stuck under the bee's sternites, area of where the wax glands are located. Showing 2 possible live mites down from the pre-treatment of 20 indicates a 10 fold drop in the alcohol washes. During the treatment exposed mites in the treatment super get the full dose of the treatment killing all mites exposed. Bees with mites on them outside of the box do not get the full dose and survive. Also, drifting bees and drones from mite infested and collapsing colonies in the area are causing a resurgence of mite populations in the colonies.

During our next trials we will do some powdered sugar alcohol rolls to determine live and dead mites after treatment.