Phil Craft is a beekeeper, former bee inspector in Kentucky, and the technical advisor for Véto-pharma in the United States. In this article, Phil explains why Spring hive checks are important to assess the condition of the hives, and how to take steps promptly if problems exist.
Did you know that in Europe, the treatments to combat Varroa destructor are registered as veterinary medicines? For instance, the manufacturing of Apivar is strictly supervised by the European and national authorities.
Varroa EasyCheck was developed by Véto-pharma in 2016 to provide an accurate estimation of the mite infestation levels in a hive with the alcohol wash method. Recent investigations in our apiary showed that the Varroa EasyCheck can be used equally with the sugar roll and CO2 injection methods as well.
Each and every year recently, the media runs a story about Zombees (Zombie honey bees) as it alluringly mystifies the Halloween and the Day of the Dead experience. Many of us see the headline and the catch phrase passively; but do they really exist? Well to alter a famous holiday editorial phrase from a renowned 1897 editorial; “Yes, Virigina, there are zombees.”
