Schedule

Here's a draft schedule drawn up from Sunday's OBA seminar:

For AFB-prevention, stop treating four weeks before main honey flow--around here is this dandelions or fruit trees? This year, ca 1 May, so this year, stop treating by 1 April, and because treatment is three times at 4-5 days interval, this year treatment START is mid-March. Since this year we're approximately three weeks early, should be pretty safe to start mid-March 2011. Treat again in the fall (after honey supers off). The idea is, hive may have trace amounts of bacteria picked up from other hives, etc., this is to zap these. To buy: OXYTET-25-S and powdered sugar.

EFB-prevention is same as AFB-prevention.

Chalk brood prevention = maintain strong hives and use hygienic stock.

Sackbrood = maintain strong hives, re-queen every two years with tested queens.

Trachial mites: spring: 65% formic acid pads placed on hives when temperature reaches 10C and brood is present; Mite awayII or 3 multiple application formic acid pads. For MiteAwayII, need a spacer rim (NB), leave 21 days, no honey supers, no screened bottom boards, no entrance reducers. So, place 21 days before placing honey supers and screen bottom board, but after removing the entrance reducer; how does this relate to foul-brood prevention schedule? Monitor in fall by sending away samples for microscopic examination.

Treat again in fall. To buy: two spacer rims; formic acid pads.

Varroa mite options: formic acid, oxalic acid, Apistan, CheckMite, Apivar, drone trapping, drone comb (this is our favoured option). Monitor. Apply Apistan or CheckMite or Apivar strips spring and fall, but if we monitor and find no mites in spring, then no need to treat? Treat after honey supers come off in fall. AND apply oxalic acid in late fall by trickle method. To buy: yellow and red file folders, we have new Crisco and vaseline, set of strips to place after honey comes off, oxalic acid (have syringe, etc.).

Schedule: during summer, regularly monitor for varroa; when honey supers come off around Labour Day, place strips for varroa; treat with Oxytet for AFB; for trachial mites, send away samples for microscopic examination, and my recollection is these must be taken from the brood frames, because the age of the bees is relevant--check this. If infestation level above 10% then treat with formic acid pads or MiteAwayII. Late in the fall before wrapping, apply oxalic acid by trickle method. Spring schedule starts mid-March, write in calendar.

Revise these quick notes.