Koss Russian bee setup

[Breeder of queens Koss]

Yes, we have that trait here in NZ also, just, not enough. It's only fairly recently it has become talked about as opposed to normal VSH where the larva is destroyed.

Imagine if you didn't have to treat bees for mites like in the good old days? Or reduce the amount of treatment to once a year?
I think you would reduce your costs of buying medicines that cost as much as a Boeing wing and there would be savings in labor costs, and your free time could be spent on more enjoyable activities when the bees do this work for you.
Treatment with chemicals leads over time to tick resistance to them. And in the long term this is a road to a dead end...

 

[Alastair]

Imagine if you didn't have to treat bees for mites like in the good old days? Or reduce the amount of treatment to once a year?

That is one of my pet daydreams. I hope one day it will happen but I suspect it will not be in my lifetime.

 

[Breeder of queens Koss]

I will continue the topic about sacbrood. Subtotals.
A colony that I did not treat at all. She recovered on her own. I did not find any dead larvae.
I was never able to cure one colony. Even after press and isolating the queen. The dead larva still appeared in the brood. I have made the decision to replace the queen in this hive.
The other colonys, where the queens were isolated, feel well and show no signs of illness.
And now interesting conclusions.
Most likely there was only one sick sacbrood colony, and which I could not cure.
The remaining colonies simply showed the sign of recapping. I have one line that opens the brood at the larval stage rather than the pupa stage as usual.
That is, bees sense a mite in the brood, even when it has not yet begun to reproduce. Zero tolerance to ticks.
But there is a problem that some larvae die when open. This is not critical for the bee pupa. The humidity in the hive may have an effect. Don't know.
The photo shows a frame with the brood of one colony. Don't be alarmed. This colony was specifically infected with a tick. And in some cells there was a wax moth worm, so they are also open. The colony shows a response to infection. When she copes with the mite, the brood will be as usual.

 

[Alastair]

I notice most of the re-caps seem to be in clusters or lines, do you think much of it was due to varroa mites?

 

[Breeder of queens Koss]

I notice most of the re-caps seem to be in clusters or lines, do you think much of it was due to varroa mites?

When the dissected brood appears in the shape of a line, it is more likely to be a reaction to a wax moth caterpillar. A definite answer can only be given by examination under a microscope. In general, an interesting question is by what criteria does a tick choose one cell and not another.

 

[Breeder of queens Koss]

and this is what a "happy" tick family looks like. having reproductive success. And I finally found a tick donor))

 

[Alastair]

Are they your own photos? If so nice work

 

[Breeder of queens Koss]

Are they your own photos? If so nice work

I only use my own photos. Unfortunately, I do not have a trinocular microscope, when it is possible to photograph the image on the monitor. Therefore, you have to edit photos on your phone.

 

[Breeder of queens Koss]

Hi all!
I have not written on the forum for a long time. I want to share good news.

A group of colonies that live without treatment since November 2023 passed a winter hardiness test. Of the 30 colonies, only 2 died.
In another group of colonies, which does not have resistance to the tick and is used to grow it (tick) in colonies. Of the 10 colonies, 2 colonies died.
The season was not easy, for almost three months there was a very strong heat - the temperature reached +40 С.
And winter brought its surprises. January was very warm and the bees carried pollen, and there was a brood in the colonies.
In February, the weather changed, and there were negative temperatures for a month. Reached -15 С.
February made me be very nervous.
I am very glad that the colonies survived and this season the work on the stability of the bees to the tick will continue this season

 

[Alastair]

Nice work Konstantin

 

[Breeder of queens Koss]

Nice work Konstantin

Thank you, Alaster!
Last season gave a lot of information to think. It was amazing for me to observe as colonies that are susceptible to the tick have a very low degree of infection, being among the VSH colonies. Apparently, the hives and migration of bees close to each other play a very large role. The colonies with VSH are indirectly, but reduce the tick -borne load in neighbors.
The tick does not multiply exponentially.

 

[Alastair]

Очень интересно, Константин. Хотелось бы, чтобы у нас в стране были ваши пчелы, но, конечно, нам не разрешают. В каком городе вы живете? Моя подруга, которая из России, сейчас в России, возможно, вы рядом?

 

[Alastair]

Не мой друг, я должен был сказать мой жених.

 

[Breeder of queens Koss]

Очень интересно, Константин. Хотелось бы, чтобы у нас в стране были ваши пчелы, но, конечно, нам не разрешают. В каком городе вы живете? Моя подруга, которая из России, сейчас в России, возможно, вы рядом?

Yes, you have a very serious biological protection. It is probably easier for me to come to work to you😁. So if there is a team of like -minded people, ready to work in a VSH project, I am ready to consider options.

You have a very beautiful nature and very good conditions for beekeeping.
Our seasons do not intersect. It would be a very interesting experience and I have something to learn from you. I've always admired how many colonies your commercial beekeepers work with.

 

[Breeder of queens Koss]

Не мой друг, я должен был сказать мой жених.

Congratulations, Alastair. I am very happy for you. I replied to you in a personal message.