Diseases & Medications

Honey Bee Diseases

DISCLAIMER:

The Cherokee Beekeeper's Club displays this information as a guide for beekeepers in Northern Georgia and should be adjusted for other climates and situations. In addition, the information and opinions contained herewith do not constitute or represent the recommendations or opinions of the Cherokee Beekeepers Club or its officers, directors, or members. No liability, whatsoever, is or will be assumed by the Cherokee Beekeepers Club, at any time, now or in the future, as the information contained on this site should be used AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Honeybee Medications

The greatest importance in treating or preventing disease is to verify the hive is queen-rite, free of foulbrood, and has adequate stores of food. Assuming they have adequate food, hives dying late summer and fall are killed by varroa mites. Hives dying after cold weather in December or January starve due to tracheal mites destroying high percentages of the populations. These problems can be minimized by controlling both types of mites.

Sticky board tests can show the degree of varroa mite infestation as well as the effectiveness of your medication. Sticky board testing before medication is your means to understanding the degree of infestation. Sticky board testing after medication measures the effectiveness of the mite treatment.

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ALWAYS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PACKAGES EXACTLY!

Not following directions as specified leads to medication resistance of parasites.

(See Table)

Medication (see note)

Problem

Active Ingredient

Advantages

Disadvantages

Comments

Apistan

Varroa mite

Fluvalinate

Easy to use

Mites are often resistant to Apistan. Kills only varroa.

Checkmite

Varroa mite

Coumaphos

Harsh chemical.

Application: 5-6 weeks (2 strips per brood chamber)

ApiLifeVar

Varroa mite

Essential Oils

Natural Ingredients

Temperature Sensitive.

Time-consuming application: (3 apps.

7-10 days apart).

Small hive beetles should be under control before using this medication.

Mite-Away II

Varroa mite

Formic Acid

No resistance. Also proven to be effective against tracheal mites.

Temperature Sensitive (apply when daytime high is between 50° and 78°).

Potentially dangerous to honeybees.

Use strictly as directed. Formic acid can kill honeybees. Visit www.miteaway.com.

Apiguard

Varroa Mite

Thymol

Also active against tracheal mite and chalk brood.

Thymol is a naturally occurring substance. No harmful effects on colony. Extremely easy to use.

Powdered Sugar

Varroa Mite

Powdered Sugar

Natural Ingredients. May be used to reduce mite count in spring w/ supers on.

Must apply consistently, three times per week for three weeks.

Must be used in conjunction w/ screened bottom board or no bottom board. Good emergency remedy for reducing mite count.

Terramycin

American Foulbrood

European Foulbrood

Terramycin

(antibiotic)

Some resistance shown

AF best destroyed by fire. Severe mite infestation & damage can simulate most of the foulbrood symptoms.

Tylan

American Foulbrood

European Foulbrood

Tylan

(antibiotic)

Expensive

Grease Patties

Tracheal mite

Vegetable Shortening & Crystal Sugar

Can leave in year round.

More beetles with patties.

Works by masking odor of young bees from mite.

Menthol

Tracheal mite

Menthol

Temperature sensitive

Moth Crystals

Wax Moth

Para dichlorobenzene

Effective for treating empty supers to prevent moth damage to drawn comb.

Do not use in hives with live bees.

Wax moth damage is the result of weak or declining hives in late summer. Do not confuse moth crystals with moth balls (naphthalene).

Checkmite

Small Hive Beetle

Coumaphos

Not effective when strip is placed in the cluster.

Harsh chemical.

Beetle traps (using Checkmite) developed by BJ-very effective- more expensive than bait stations.

Beetle Bait Station

Small Hive Beetle

Very effective. Can be used year round. Developed by South GA beekeepers.

Not an approved method.

Available from BJ. Kills adult beetles in the hive.

Gardstar

Small hive beetle pupae

Permethrin

Kills pupae stage in the soil.

Beetles have already reproduced and destroyed the bee colony.

Not a preventative. Use only after beetles have reproduced. Use as a soil drench.

Hit Counter

Medication (see note)	Problem	Active Ingredient	Advantages	Disadvantages	Comments
Apistan	Varroa mite	Fluvalinate	Easy to use	Mites are often resistant to Apistan. Kills only varroa.
Checkmite	Varroa mite	Coumaphos		Harsh chemical. Application: 5-6 weeks (2 strips per brood chamber)
ApiLifeVar	Varroa mite	Essential Oils	Natural Ingredients	Temperature Sensitive. Time-consuming application: (3 apps. 7-10 days apart).	Small hive beetles should be under control before using this medication.
Mite-Away II	Varroa mite	Formic Acid	No resistance. Also proven to be effective against tracheal mites.	Temperature Sensitive (apply when daytime high is between 50° and 78°). Potentially dangerous to honeybees.	Use strictly as directed. Formic acid can kill honeybees. Visit www.miteaway.com.
Apiguard	Varroa Mite	Thymol	Also active against tracheal mite and chalk brood.		Thymol is a naturally occurring substance. No harmful effects on colony. Extremely easy to use.
Powdered Sugar	Varroa Mite	Powdered Sugar	Natural Ingredients. May be used to reduce mite count in spring w/ supers on.	Must apply consistently, three times per week for three weeks.	Must be used in conjunction w/ screened bottom board or no bottom board. Good emergency remedy for reducing mite count.
Terramycin	American Foulbrood European Foulbrood	Terramycin (antibiotic)		Some resistance shown	AF best destroyed by fire. Severe mite infestation & damage can simulate most of the foulbrood symptoms.
Tylan	American Foulbrood European Foulbrood	Tylan (antibiotic)		Expensive
Grease Patties	Tracheal mite	Vegetable Shortening & Crystal Sugar	Can leave in year round.	More beetles with patties.	Works by masking odor of young bees from mite.
Menthol	Tracheal mite	Menthol		Temperature sensitive
Moth Crystals	Wax Moth	Para dichlorobenzene	Effective for treating empty supers to prevent moth damage to drawn comb.	Do not use in hives with live bees.	Wax moth damage is the result of weak or declining hives in late summer. Do not confuse moth crystals with moth balls (naphthalene).
Checkmite	Small Hive Beetle	Coumaphos		Not effective when strip is placed in the cluster. Harsh chemical.	Beetle traps (using Checkmite) developed by BJ-very effective- more expensive than bait stations.
Beetle Bait Station	Small Hive Beetle		Very effective. Can be used year round. Developed by South GA beekeepers.	Not an approved method.	Available from BJ. Kills adult beetles in the hive.
Gardstar	Small hive beetle pupae	Permethrin	Kills pupae stage in the soil.	Beetles have already reproduced and destroyed the bee colony.	Not a preventative. Use only after beetles have reproduced. Use as a soil drench.