There are many different options when looking into not using chemicals. Food Grade Mineral Oil (FGMO) is considered a chemical, but not as harsh as many of the others. You can squirt the oil on the top bars or use a fogger to apply it into the hive. There are cords that you can make up with FGMO that the bees âcleanâ out of the hives, getting and spreading the oil throughout the colony.
http://www.beesource.com/pov/rodriguez/index.htm
This is a link to the studies that Dr. Rodriguze has conducted with FGMO. (lots of reading)
Many âchem. freeâ beekeepers use screen bottom boards (SBB). SBBâs help in many ways but there is some contradicting studies on the subject. I like SBBâs for several reasons: 1. They help the hive from overheating during the summer (a real problem here in the south) 2. I think it does help with the mites. 3. SBBâs make it easier for a hive to keep clean. Below is from the UGA Bee research lab, and studies they have done with SBBâs.
ABSTRACT This study tested the efficacy of a hive bottom screen device in controlling varroa mites, when used alone or in conjunction with the miticides ApistanJ and ApilifeVARJ. Thirty six colonies were equalized and each assigned to one of six treatments: (1) no treatment, (2) bottom screen, (3) Apistan, (4) Apistan + screen, (5) Apilife, and (6) Apilife + screen. Adult bee populations were not affected by treatment, but the number of brood cells was significantly reduced in colonies treated exclusively with Apilife compared to that of colonies treated with Apistan or exclusively with a bottom screen. Brood production was numerically highest in colonies treated exclusively with a bottom screen. Varroa populations were significantly reduced in colonies receiving acaricide compared to non-treated colonies. Varroa populations in colonies treated exclusively with a bottom screen were 14.9 % lower than that of non-treated colonies, but this difference was not significant. The bottom screen did not affect the percentage of varroa mite population phoretic on adult bees. Apistan provided 100% mite control in South Carolina whereas in Georgia it provided 0% control in colonies treated exclusively with Apistan. With the addition of a bottom screen, Apistan-treated colonies in Georgia experienced an average mite control of 44.3%. This suggests that fluvalinate resistance exists in Georgia varroa mites. It also indicates that a bottom screen may help compensate for reduced acaricide efficacy. Average efficacy of Apilife ranged from 65.2 - 97.1%.
Small cell foundation (4.9mm), is another tool that is gaining in popularity. From what most have seen from small cell is the brood emerge earlier when raised on small cell. This hinders the mites a great deal and keeps there populations under control. There is a ton of stuff to read about small cell and I will not even try to give it all to you here. This should give you plenty to read during bathroom breaks over the next week or two: :haha:
http://www.beesource.com/pov/lusby/index.htm
Another way is catching and removing the mites in the âdrone comb methodâ. Once again way too much for me to cover here. You can read this late at night when you canât sleep.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~jtemp/dronemethod.html
Lets not forget the SMR and Hygienic queen lines that they have out now days too.
There are many more, I can really go on but I think that should get you started. I use FGMO on most of my hives, and all of them have SBBâs. Almost all of my hives are on small cell and what is not Iâm converting. I have 8 hives that have never been treatedâ¦ever. I have had one of them for 3 yeas now; the others are still in there first year. I have never lost any hive that I have not treated.
This all sounds real good but be ready to have loses if you decide to go chem. free. Itâs part of modern beekeeping.
BB