I have found varroa mite with high mite count of 40+. I have planning to euthanise them as I don’t have the means to treat. My question is, can I euthanise both bees and varroa while stills saving the super and brood box?
This is a tough pill to swallow, Rachel. You seem resolved to this course of action, so I will respect your decision and answer your question.
I would remove the valuable Flow frames from the hive. If there’s room, they can be packed down to the brood box. If there’s too many bees, just remove the frames shaking the bees off into box. Swap the boxes top to bottom or transfer the brood frames up to the super and replace the lid. To make the next step easier, just use the inner cover with the hole sealed and leave the roof off.
Prepare a jug with 500mL of petrol and soak a cloth large enough to cover the frames. At night, seal the entrance using a head lamp with red light to see(bees can’t see red light), seal the entrance.
With the jug and soaking cloth nearby, quickly, but calmly pop the cover off, cover the frames with the cloth, then calmly pour the remaining petrol over the cloth and pop the cover back on.
The vapour will take seconds to kill the bees. The silence is eerie.
Next day, if allowed by council incinerate the dead bees and frames then bury the ashes at least 300mm below ground level. It’s easier to dig the hole first and incinerate everything in the hole. Otherwise, double bag everything then bin it.
Leave the equipment to air out allowing all the petrol to gas off. You could scrub with soapy water, rinse and dry. Done
As varroa sweeps through your area, many hives will collapse this season. People not treating or not treating correctly, will cause their bees to suffer a miserable death. The combination of varroa and SHB has proved a particularly fast and lethal combination. Your course of action is far more humane than allowing that to happen.
You could reach out the DPI Bee Biosecurity Officers or VDOs to help you treat your hives. They’re there to help. No charge.
Good luck.
Mike
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