Medlemmer biavl.dk blivbiavler.dk Vi elsker honning

HEATTREATMENT

Skrevet af: Camilla J. Brødsgaard & Henrik Hansen. Danmarks Jordbrugs-Forskning, Projektgruppe Biavl

HEAT TREATMENT OF BROOD FRAMES 
AN EFFECTIVE PHYSICAL METHOD

HEAT

  • Heat treatment of sealed brood provides an effective control of the varroa mite
  • The varroa mite is more sensitive than bee brood to temperatures that lie above the normal brood temperature
  • Heat treatment can be carried out in various types of thermostatically controlled boxes
  • Only frames without dead brood should be treated
  • Below the Borgstadter -Thermo- Box and Apitherm boxes are described.

BORGSTADTER – THERMO – BOX

  • One can heat treat 16 -17 day old brood frames from queen caged frames (see previous article
  • Treatment  lasts for four hours at  44°C
  • Few brood injuries – some shortening of the bees life

APITHERM  BOX 

  • Varroa can be treated exclusively with this apparatus
  • treatment can be carried out at any time on sealed brood, irrespective of the honey flow, e.g. at the end of May or June
  • One makes a decision about how many treatments are required from the results of monitoring surveys.
  • One treats brood frames where at least 75% of the cells are sealed. The open brood dies.
  • Up to 18 frames can be treated at any one time
  • The treatment is carried out for three hours, under which the temperature gradually rises to just under 44° C.
  • The bees develop normally and their lifespan is not shortened.
  • An Apitherm box, for which the electricity in generated by solar cells, is under development in Germany.

THE EFFECT

  • Borgstadter-Thermo- Box: 100% mite mortality immediately
  • Apitherm Box: varroa females and nymphs are injured under treatment.  The main part die within 24 hours.  Those that survive lose their ability to procreate.

HEAT2