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The treatment of bees in autumn includes a whole range of measures aimed at creating favorable conditions for wintering bees. The condition in which the bees spend the winter depends on the preservation of the bee colony and the honey collection of the next year. This set of measures includes the mandatory preventive or therapeutic treatment of hives and bees in order to prevent the mass death of insects from diseases and parasites.
Goals of processing bees in the fall
Losses from diseases of bees in the apiary are significant. Most often, diseases are mixed. The most common are varroatosis and nosematosis. Also, such dangerous diseases as ascospherosis, aspergillosis and foulbrood are detected. This happens, most often, due to untimely detection of the disease, weakening of colonies, improper feeding, poor hygiene of bees and irregular disinfection.
In winter, bees and young individuals, already weakened from summer work, usually go. To protect them from common infections and parasites, the beekeeper must carry out disinfecting measures.
Another phenomenon has been discovered that occurs in autumn – the gathering of bee colonies, when entire colonies disappear, and the reasons for this are not entirely clear. Beekeepers tend to believe that tick attacks are to blame. The bees feel that they will not be able to overcome the parasites, and leave the hives in search of a safe place. Therefore, measures to prevent such tick-borne invasions must be carried out with the beginning of autumn.
Prevention of bees from diseases in the fall
After the last honey collection, as a rule, they inspect the bee colonies in order to determine the preparation of the hive for winter. By autumn, the bees weaken, they are most susceptible to various diseases and the invasion of ticks. The audit will help to understand what preventive measures need to be taken, and what autumn treatment of bees should be carried out.
Even if during the inspection no problems were found in the condition of the bees, it is recommended to carry out preventive measures to protect the hive for the whole winter and treat the bees in the fall. One of the important measures is disinfection. It includes:
- mechanical cleaning.
- Treatment of frames with disinfectants.
- Removal of residual disinfectants.
Good-quality food, which needs to be provided to the bee colony in the required quantity for the whole winter, is also a preventive measure against diseases.
Processing time
It is recommended to treat bees in the fall from ticks and various infections as early as possible. Treatment should begin after the end of the honey collection or immediately after the discovery of the disease. Otherwise, with the active spread of the disease, the uterus may stop producing brood. The greatest effect, as practice shows, is achieved in the warm season, when the daytime temperature outside can be +100C.
How to treat bees in the fall
For the prevention of diseases, a drug such as Bipin has recently been widely used. You can also apply one of the traditional methods of processing the hive. The dosage of “Bipin” must be set on the basis of instructions in the instructions and an assessment of the condition of the bee colony. Usually, 10 ml of the prepared solution is used per street.
Treatment with such a solution must be carried out at least two times. The first time – immediately after the end of the main flow, in order to have time to grow healthy brood, and the second – before the formation of the club.
There are two options for using Bipin:
- spraying the prepared solution with a syringe;
- the use of smoke when burning the drug in smoke guns.
The first method is considered the most accessible, simple and inexpensive. However, beekeepers highly appreciate the ease of use of the second method. Processing of insects occurs in a matter of minutes. If the apiary is large, then it is advisable to purchase a smoke gun.
In the case when no signs of the disease were found during the autumn examination, a very simple method can be used to disinfect the hive for preventive purposes:
- The hive is treated with hot air.
- A solution of 100 g of alcohol with 30 g of propolis is applied to the entire surface of the nest.
Bees not only need to be treated, but measures should be taken to maintain health and strengthen immunity. For this purpose, autumn top dressing with industrial preparations “Bee” or “Biospon”, as well as self-prepared “KAS-81” from vegetable raw materials, is suitable.
How to treat bees in the fall
Treatment of bees is a necessary measure aimed at saving the bee colony and increasing the honey flow. To combat diseases of bees in the fall, only approved agents in the indicated doses should be used. An overdose is dangerous for eggs, larvae and adults. It can lead to poisoning of individuals and contamination of bee products with preparations.
There are three main treatments:
- physical;
- biological;
- chemical.
Thermal treatment of hives and bee colonies refers to the physical. Biological is used using formic and oxalic acids. Chemical involves the use of drugs.
What medicines to give bees in the fall
One of the most common and effective preparations for the treatment of bee colonies in the fall are products developed on the basis of amitraz, a poison from mites. One of these is Bipin. Experienced beekeepers advise spraying the medicine immediately after the bribe. Then the greatest result is achieved, and young bees will be less infected with the parasite.
The following remedies also help in the treatment of bees:
- strips of “Bayvarol”, “Apistan”, which are placed in nests between frames for at least 25 days;
- “Timol” – used before the formation of a nest from foul diseases;
- “TEDA” – against varroatosis and acarapidosis acts with an efficiency of up to 99%;
- “Fumagol” – used in the treatment of varroatosis and nosematosis.
Medicines should be given to bees in the fall after the preparation and disinfection of the nests. Means are recommended to be used for no more than 4 seasons due to the addiction and adaptation of parasites to them.
The use of traditional medicine
Autumn processing of bees can be carried out with a folk remedy. This is the so-called “KAS-81”, developed by the All- Research Institute of Veterinary Sanitation. You can cook it yourself according to the following instructions:
- Harvest pine buds in spring until they swell, along with shoots about 3 cm long.
- Collect wormwood leaves before and during flowering.
- Dry the prepared raw materials separately (the properties are preserved for 2 years).
- Take 50 g of buds, 50 g of wormwood before flowering, 900 g of wormwood during flowering, chop coarsely, pour 10 liters of water, boil over low heat for 2 hours.
- Decoction insist 10 hours, strain through cheesecloth.
It should be used immediately after preparation, adding to the sugar syrup for bees at the rate of 50 ml of decoction per 1 liter of syrup. For treatment, you need to feed the bees 5-6 liters of syrup with a medicinal decoction. According to practice, such treatment allows you to get rid of 94% of parasites.
An effective method in the fight against ticks is the treatment of parasites with smoke. After half an hour of exposure to smoke, dead insects begin to fall to the bottom of the hive. Wet fallen leaves can be used as a source of smoke.
The use of oxalic acid is popular with beekeepers to control mites. The substance is diluted to a certain concentration, poured into a special evaporator and installed above the nest. Evaporating, the agent has a detrimental effect on parasites, burning their respiratory tract. Keep it in this position for 3 to 5 days. The outdoor temperature must be between +140C to + 250C.
How to treat bees in winter
Hot summers provide a favorable time for the varroa mite to grow and reproduce. Bees tired of summer work easily get varroatosis. And the active spread of this disease occurs in winter.
In order for the colony to survive until next summer and start healthy honey collection, it is necessary to treat the bees against the parasite for the winter. For this, the drug “Bipin” has been developed. It is also popular with beekeepers because it is inexpensive and easy to use.
It is used in almost all apiaries after the autumn revision at the end of August until the offspring appears, not only for therapeutic, but also for preventive purposes. You need to act strictly according to the instructions:
- The agent in the amount of 0,5 ml should be diluted in 1 liter of warm, clean water.
- Dial in a syringe and spray all members of the bee family.
The water must not be hot. The resulting solution acquires a milky color. For processing, you need to purchase an automatic syringe, a dropper needle and a measuring cup. One syringe of funds is spent per family.
Processing must be carried out outside the hive in special cassettes. After spraying, the mites die and fall off the bees.
Conclusion
The treatment of bees in autumn is one of the most important measures for creating favorable wintering conditions and preserving the bee colony. Timely destruction of parasites and prevention of infectious diseases will help the bees to save strength and offspring for fruitful work next summer.
