Newsletter : April 2005
Newsletter : April 2005
1. Editorial
Last month I wrote about being puzzled by the status of the use of oxalic acid as a means of treating pyrethroid-resistant varroa. It is widely used abroad but is not approved in this country (though is certainly used here by some very experienced beekeepers). More than that, the Beekeepers Quarterly had reported that it was actually illegal to use it. I have since found some clarification of this ruling though it still leaves questions to be answered. In the February edition of the Scottish Beekeeper some correspondence was reported between John Cooper, the Chair of the Aberdeen &District BKA and his M.P. Mr. Cooper wrote asking for a definitive response from DEFRA on this issue, i.e. given that no commercial formula for an oxalic crystal treatment is likely to be put forward for approval (too expensive for the projected profit) can beekeepers use the readily available oxalic acid crystals in ways that are now well known and described. An edited version of the response, which came from Larry Whitty, the Minister responsible for DEFRA, is given below:
(a) a veterinary medicinal product authorised in the UK for use in another animal species, or for another condition in the same species; or
(b) a medicinal product authorised in the UK for human use, or,
(c) a veterinary medicinal product prepared extemporaneously to the veterinary surgeons specification.
.....However, these options are only permitted where there is no product authorised for the condition and species concerned. As products authorised for the treatment of varroa are available in the UK, these options would not currently be available.
So, my question now is, does this mean that other treatments involving, say, formic acid or lactic acid, are also illegal - or indeed thymol in any form other than that licensed for use? Meanwhile you may be interested to read the description of an oxalic acid treatment (item 4) below!!
2. Next Meeting
The next meeting, on 13th April, is the last in the current series of Indoor Meetings. We will welcome Claire Waring, until recently the general secretary of BBKA, who will be giving an illustrated talk on Asian and South American Bees. If you saw the recent television programme on the honey-hunters of Nepal you will know something of how strange and wonderful some of these insects can be. Prepare to be absorbed and fascinated by Claire's talk.
The bees are now beginning to fly and are cleaning up their combs and bringing in pollen (in between the showers). So from next month we will be embarking on our apiary visits. The finishing touches are being made to these arrangements and they will be passed on to you as soon as they are ready. Time also for beekeepers to get ready for the coming season. Make your shopping lists and order from our local suppliers (see back page) or have a day out at Stoneleigh on 16th April. Good luck and full supers.
3. March Meeting Report
In place of the originally advertised programme we welcomed Martin Smith, a member of the BBKA Executive Committee, to discuss with us various ongoing developments at the national headquarters. He updated us with the outcome of the latest talks between BBKA and DEFRA on the proposal to reduce the number of Bee Inspectors (see the latest edition of BeeCraft) and also reflected that the arrival here of the Small Hive Beetle was probably inevitable as a consequence of the market in imported queens (apparently one importer alone brings in 3000 per season!).
We discussed aspects of the proposed new BBKA Constitution, which is wending its way through a myriad meetings. Topics mentioned included the position of 'partner' members (not covered by public liability insurance) and voting rights at the ADM (currently 1 association - 1 vote, regardless of the size of the association.
We also commented on BBKA's website, the activities of BBKA enterprises, the problems of liaison with spraying contractors and how to attract, train and keep new beekeepers. It's not often that we have the opportunity for such a wide-ranging discussion with a well-informed source and by the end of the evening both SBKA and BBKA had enjoyed and benefited from the exchange.
4. Using oxalic acid - Brian Gant
(This article is an edited version of a longer one that appeared in the Devon BKA Newsletter in February 2005. It describes an anti-varroa treatment suitable for when there is little or no brood present in a colony. Since it depends on contact with the active chemical and not on evaporation it can be used during the winter. The author bases his method on advice from the Swiss Research Institute at Liebefeld (click on E to get the English translation) and from the New Zealand Government.
The method
The solution is applied to the bees at the rate of 5ml per seam of bees between the top bars. The application is easily done using a l0ml hypodermic syringe, without a needle (available from a pharmacist) giving half of a load to each occupied seam. Plastic gloves must be worn to protect your hands and you should have plenty of water available to dilute any spillage and cloths to mop up. If it is difficult to reach down to the bottom of the bottle of solution then fit a short length of plastic tubing (petrol or aquarium tubing) on to the syringe, but be careful not to knock this tubing and splash the liquid around.
The results
Safety
The most likely time to use oxalic acid on full colonies is over the winter when there is little sealed brood to shelter the mites. If you winter your bees, as I do, with a brood chamber and a super then the combs in the super should be melted down in the spring. Some research work on the use of oxalic acid has suggested that treatment with stronger solutions, or repeated treatments over the winter, inhibits the development of the colony in the following spring so more is not better.
Caution
Tentative recommendations 5. A Rare Hive
(This item was reported in brief last November. Further details have now been provided. -Ed.)
John Hill commenced his lifelong interest at the age of eight when his uncle, John Oliver, started keeping bees in Shrewsbury. (John Oliver organised the Bees and Honey Section of the Shrewsbury Flower Show for many years, becoming Chairman of Shrewsbury and later County Beekeepers Association.) After studying Agriculture with Agricultural Economics at the University of Bangor, John Hill then spent several years working with some of the largest beekeeping concerns in America and Canada before returning to England where he kept over 500 colonies producing honey and a variety of products.
In 1973 he found some interesting old hives in Kent, amongst which was this rare Double Double Walled Hive, believed to have been made around 1880.
Sadly, after a lifetime devoted to bees, John has had to cease his interest after being diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, a rare lung disorder requiring transplantation. He is selling this hive and donating the proceeds to the Julia Polak Research Trust, named after a heart & lung transplant patient who has just celebrated the 10th anniversary of her successful operation and who is now the Director of the Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. The Centre has been at the forefront of research into ways to grow human lung and bone tissue, providing an alternative to transplantation. If you would like to know more about this item please contact John Hill (Tel: 01743 240573) or the Julia Polak Research Trust, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH or view this website.
6. Round and About
Ludlow & District BKA: Sat. 30th April: Beginners Practical Class & Apiary Meeting at Croft Cottage, Cumberley Lane nr. Knowsbury. Details: Andy Vanderhook Tel: 01299 841379
Stafford Bee Group: Thursday May 4th: 7.45 p.m. County Staff Club, Eastgate Street : Discussion on the County Show. Details: Tony Burton Tel: 01785 663340
North Shropshire BKA:Saturday April 23rd. Out-apiary afternoon at Pim Hill 2.00 p.m. Details: Mike Harris Tel: 01939 232302
Oswestry BKA:Saturday April 30th at 3.00 p.m. Invitation of Mr. & Mrs. Morgan, Reservoir House, Llanforda. Demonstration & talk by Mr. G. Critchley, Mold. Details: G. Jones Tel: 01691 654448
Montgomery BKA:Wednesday 20th April, 7.30 p.m. Talk on IPM & Shook Swarm method - John Verran; Plas Dolerw, Milford Road, Newtown.
South Clwyd BKA: Beekeeping Course. Session 1: How to Start Beekeeping 22/23rd April; Session 2: Summer Management 21st May; Session 3: Honey Harvest/Preparing for Winter. £14 per session, accommodation available. Details: Mrs. Helen Roberts, Llysfasi College, Ruthin, Denbighshire LL15 2LB Tel: 01978 790263
7. Woe is Bee!
It was the last week in September and I had just finished feeding my bees. It had been a reasonable season, nothing to boast about but I had taken enough honey to feel smugly self satisfied with my beekeeping skills (what do they say about pride coming before a fall?).
My apiary is only about 50 yards from the house and is tucked into the bottom of a field bounded on two sides by a stream with willow and alder on the far bank and on the other two sides by barbed wire fences to keep the cattle away from the hives, into one of which I have built a stile so as to gain access. I lashed the hives to their stands, checked that the mouseguards were secure and went home to dream of bigger and better things for next year.
I checked the hives several times over the next couple of months and over the Christmas holiday gave them some candy. I didn't check to see if they needed it as it was a bitterly cold day with snow on the ground and it was far to cold to look inside, and in any case I believe in prevention rather than cure. As I put the candy over the porter bee escape hole in the cover board one or two brave souls came up to see what idiot was disturbing their Christmas, so I assumed that all was well with them.
I next went across to the bees at the end of February, it was still cold but I had been in the house all day and felt in need of some fresh air. As I climbed the stile I noticed that all the hives were leaning at drunken angles to each other and every single hive was dead and cold. My neighbour (bless him!) had put some steers into the field on the far side of the stream and due to the very low water level they had crossed over, perhaps looking for some shelter from the biting winds. For whatever reason they had obviously rubbed themselves against the hives and managed to break the seal between the two boxes. (I always overwinter on a brood and a half.)
I put the hives back together and closed them up. I looked at the cattle who were now back in their 'own' field and wondered ruefully if we should have steak pie for tea!
I am now a beekeeper without any bees, and to put it bluntly am on the scrounge for either surplus colonies or swarms. (I have yet to see a swarm where I live at the foot of the Long Mountain) If you can help, please telephone me at any time.
Graham Roberson. Tel:- 01938 570130 or 07909 907416
"Under the Medicines (Restrictions on the Administration of Veterinary Medicinal Products) Regulations 1994 it is an offence (my emphasis) to administer a veterinary medicinal product to an animal unless it is an authorised product. According to our records no veterinary medicinal product containing oxalic acid is authorised for use in bees. Administration of oxalic acid crystals as you describe would not, therefore, be permitted under the legislation. The legislation provides exemptions from the above prohibition for veterinary surgeons (who may) .... prescribe or administer the following options in the order stated:
Oxalic acid crystals are available from Thorne's. In the crystalline form the acid is combined with water so that in weighing out quantities you need to know that only 71.4% of the weight is acid, the rest is water, So 20g of the crystals contain 14.3g of oxalic acid. Measure out 333m1 of warm water (or weigh 333g) and add 333g of ordinary sugar to make about 500ml of 1:1 sugar syrup. This should be poured into a suitable bottle (clearly labelled) and 20g of oxalic acid crystals added. Close the bottle and shake well to dissolve the crystals. This gives a solution of strength just under 3% w/v. N.B. the solution has a limited shelf life (maximum six months if stored at 15 ºC).
I have now treated six colonies in late December as described above. In each case a good number of mites have been collected on the varroa tray under the mesh but I was surprised to find that the daily count increased at first, on four hives it reached a maximum after two to three days but on the other two five to seven days passed before the maximum was reached; in all cases the count has declined irregularly since then.
Honey has a reputation as a pure natural product, a reputation that we need to safeguard; but we also need to keep our bees alive. It follows that if using any organic acid we should do all we can to ensure that no significant amount enters the honey. You should be aware that, unlike the pyrethroid treatments with which we are all familiar, these acids are all soluble in water and so may well appear in honey.
We need to keep the bees alive, but the beekeeper is even more valuable. Oxalic acid is very poisonous and it is a skin and severe eye irritant. Use it with great care; plastic gloves and eye protection should be worn to protect yourself. And continue to do so, as with many hazards we are all inclined to be very careful at first and to become less safety conscious as familiarity grows. In this case familiarity breeds danger from lack of caution.
We should aim at having a minimal mite population in the late summer so, as soon as the supers are taken off, treat with thymol (e.g. Apiguard) or give repeated applications of either formic acid or lactic acid. At the end of the year when there is little or no brood and if the mite fall is significant then treat with oxalic acid as described above. During the summer months any colony without supers and little brood, such as new nuclei, and natural or artificial swarms could be treated with any of these substances. Drone culling can also be used during the summer but please let us keep some healthy drones to mate with our new queens. Keep your colonies on deep varroa floors and check the floors regularly, you may find a sudden increase if your neighbour's bees are overwhelmed by varroa. And keep a few extra nuclei over the winter to make good any losses.
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