A terrible sight - Varroa on Bumbles

[Plot17B]

Was wandering the garden with the mogsy (she likes the company) when I noticed a bumble on the grass. Sleepy and doing nothing. Which is fair enough as it is cold day after all.
But when I got close, I noticed a ring of brown dots on her thorax - and on close inspection the poor little darling was covered in Varroa mites. I whisked her away off the grass and with camera at side anyway, grabbed some photographs....whilst deciding whether to oxalic acid treat her or what (not that I have any prepared yet).
.........and then she flew off. Attached a couple of quick snaps to show how bad an infestation it was. Sorry not crystal clear but had seconds to snap.

This is not a good sign at the start of the year for the Bumbles here

[shirlthegirl43]

Poor wee bee. Well done for trying to help her though

[Nicos]

Not seen a piccie of it before...poor thing

[vicky]

That's made me itch - horrible! Is there anything we should do if we see one like this ourselves?

[Pumpkin Becki]

Is there anything we can do if we spot a bee in this state?

[Plot17B]

Well....dunno really. I treat my hive with sugar/oxalic acid mix (as well as Apistan) which makes the bees groom themselves (it tastes sweet but perhaps mild irritation too) and thus the mites fall off down the hive, through the bottom mesh floor and are "collected" on a sticky tray (to aid counting of mites and thus a good indicator of infestation level). Works as I have minimal mites.

But for a solitary bumble......you'd need constant husbandry on the colony to actually assist I'd say. And that's a no go for wild bumbles etc.

I'm sorry but I really don't know what we should do. All I do know is that if my bees had that level of infestation, I'd be devastated and also a terrible apiarist! Really feel awful for the girl - nothing I can do to help.

Can any of the other bee keepers advise?
P17B

[Farmer_Gyles]

i saw a report on the news the other day that there's a disease* ripping through britain's bee population, and could wipe out like 30% of the bee population

experts are concerned cos so many veggies need to be pollinated by bees ..... could lead to shortages and higher prices in our shops this summer ..........

* could be that mite infestation??

[Hazel at the Hill]

I thought that I'd read about sprinkling a bee with icing sugar which would make the bee groom and the mites fall off, but I wasn't sure so I've had a google.

I found this on the Ulster Beekeepers homepage

"Varroa may be dislodged from adult bees by shaking around fifty bees in a jar with a teaspoonful of icing sugar"

Best done whilst wearing one of those bee suit jobbies, methinks!

[Pumpkin Becki]

I thought that I'd read about sprinkling a bee with icing sugar which would make the bee groom and the mites fall off, but I wasn't sure so I've had a google.

I found this on the Ulster Beekeepers homepage

"Varroa may be dislodged from adult bees by shaking around fifty bees in a jar with a teaspoonful of icing sugar"

Best done whilst wearing one of those bee suit jobbies, methinks!

Yeah, that's gonna be 50 mightly angry bees! Remote control jar openers might be in order.

[shirlthegirl43]

Much as I love to see the bees, I don't fancy trying to collect 50 to shake them about with sugar!!!

[Plot17B]

I thought that I'd read about sprinkling a bee with icing sugar which would make the bee groom and the mites fall off, but I wasn't sure so I've had a google.

Actually, come to think of it, I know some bee keepers in S. Warwickshire who shake icing sugar between the hive frames. It's nicer than oxalic acid but still makes the bees groom & thus dislodges the little blighters....

Not sure about rattling the girls in a jar though. Seems...erm...a little harsh????
P17B

[Mcbee]

Plot17B - have you told your Bee Inspector/ I'm not sure what he'll do but he might be interested to know (if he already doesn't) that varroa has got to Bumble Bees.

i always thought that varroa was dependant on a large number of bees being present. That was why they were suited to investing a hive - but Bumble bees tend to be solitary or at least live in small numbers. It maybe that varroa has adapted its life cycle.

It might be worth letting the inspector know - better safe than sorry

[Mcbee]

Have a look at this link it might be of interest

Bumble bee mites - Wildlife and Environment Forums

[Plot17B]

Oooooohhhhh good link McBee. And I'll ring Stoneleigh in the morning.
Appreciated.
P17B

[vicky]

Excellent link...if you follow the other link there is a method of getting rid of the mites...basically submerging the bee in water, using several cups of fresh water till all the mites float off, then putting the bee on kitchen paper to dry. Could be tricky to do but worth having a go at.