Among the many diseases that pose a danger to bees, varroatosis, caused by Varroa Jacobsoni mites, is not the least important. They suck blood from their owners and, moreover, can infect them with other dangerous diseases. Varroatosis, if the necessary measures are not taken in a timely manner, can lead to the death of the inhabitants of the apiary. In such cases, beekeepers use bipin to destroy parasites.
Bipin is a systemic acaricide. This is the name given to chemicals intended to treat animals and areas against ticks. Bipin is characterized by moderate toxicity (belongs to the third hazard class). It does not harm insects and does not have a negative effect on the development and productivity of bee colonies. The medicine harmoniously combines high efficiency and affordable price.
Bipin has other advantages:
- within 2-3 hours it begins to act, destroying parasites;
- can be combined with heat treatment of hives;
- minimizes the risk of infection;
- acts at different stages of the disease;
- does not affect the quantity and quality of bee products;
- Even a beginner in beekeeping can prepare a medicinal solution;
- processing will not be difficult;
- does not cause side effects and does not harm bees if the instructions are followed.
Today, bipin is the most effective remedy against varroatosis. The drug has the appearance of a colorless (sometimes yellow) liquid that emits a sharp, unpleasant odor. Packaged in glass ampoules of 0.5-1 milliliter. One milliliter of the drug is enough for 20 doses.
Why is it best to treat bees in the fall?
In the fall, the bees no longer raise replacements for themselves and they have no brood; moreover, the bees are preparing for winter and gather in a club when cold weather sets in. The beekeeper’s task of treating against mites is made easier:
- The bees sit in a group and it is easier to apply medicine to them.
- The bees behave quietly, usually do not fly off the frames, and you can work without a protective mask.
Important!
Autumn treatment of bees with Bipin is carried out only at positive temperatures, preferably at 1-5 degrees Celsius. At higher temperatures, the bee club breaks up and the drug is not distributed evenly from bee to bee.
Varroatosis disease
The real misfortune of the beekeeper is the infestation of the inhabitants of the hives by the Varroa Jacobsoni mite (Varroa jacobsoni Oudemans), which spreads at high speed and in just one summer can cause irreparable damage to the apiary. Dealing with the parasite is not easy - even with timely treatment, a small number of mites will remain in the hive, but will not harm the family. However, under favorable conditions, Varroa mites will quickly spread, causing the disease varroa.
They are dangerous for the following reasons:
- suck blood and hemolymph from insects;
- Once in the cells with the brood, the female mite lays eggs there, which feed on the bee, making it weak and incapable of normal honey production;
- They are carriers of viruses that are dangerous to both bees and people.
Varroatosis is one of the common diseases that must be dealt with in a timely manner, otherwise the whole family will very quickly become infected.
What is the composition and pharmacological properties of the drug?
Bipin is available in the form of ampoules of 0.5 and 1 ml.
It is transparent in color and has a strong chemical smell. When diluted in water, the drug becomes cloudy white and translucent. The active ingredient is amitraz, which is harmful to mites, including varroa mites. The drug is safe for bees in medicinal doses, but toxic for humans and warm-blooded animals, therefore, when working, precautions are taken, which are described at the end of the article.
basic information
Treatment of insects against varroa is an important process in modern beekeeping. The life of bee colonies in winter and their development throughout the season depend on this.
The Varroa mite not only causes great harm to insects, but is also a carrier of viruses and diseases, for example, acute or viral paralysis.
Tomato variety “Crimson Giant”: description, characteristics, sowing seedlings, fertilizing, yield, photos, videos and the most common tomato diseases
This pest appeared in the USSR about 50 years ago. It began to develop rapidly, causing a lot of harm to beekeeping. But after some time, a way was found to cope with this scourge. But since beekeepers were unable to completely get rid of the mite, they constantly prevented the spread of the disease.
How to breed Bipin?
An ampoule (1 ml) is diluted in 2 liters of warm water. The result is a whitish emulsion with a pungent odor. One ampoule has 20 doses, meaning that it should be enough to treat 20 hives of 10 streets each.
Bipin is diluted in 2 liters of warm water
It is important to breed Bipin for bees according to the instructions. A leaflet with detailed instructions is included in the package, or brief information is printed on the package.
Exceeding the dose can be disastrous for the apiary. You need to take warm water so as not to catch the bees, but not higher than 40 degrees.
Safety during work
Bipin contains a substance that has a toxic effect. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the dosage indicated in the instructions.
When using bipin, you should avoid getting the drug on open areas of the skin. Therefore, before processing it is better to wear special clothing (glasses, mask, gown, gloves). When exposed to heat, it is recommended to additionally protect the respiratory system with a respirator.
During processing, you must stand against the wind to prevent splashes from getting on your clothes. After completing the procedure, you should wash your hands thoroughly.
How can you apply Bipin to bees?
There are several ways to use the drug. I use regular 1 ml or 20 ml syringes. It is better to take more syringes so as not to be distracted by drawing up the drug again while standing over an open hive. It's good to have an assistant. One takes the medicine, the other treats the bees.
But if the beekeeper works alone, then it is better to immediately draw diluted Bipin into syringes at the rate of 10 ml per 1 street of bees.
Important!
If there are few bees in the street, apply less than 10 ml to them.
I do this:
- I take the lid off the hive.
- I move the insulation aside.
- I wrap the canvas so that 2-3 streets open, spray bipin on the bees, 10 ml per 1 street.
- I cover these streets with another canvas, opening new frames.
- I treat it again with Bipin's solution and so on.
Helpful advice
If the bees behave aggressively and fly off the frames, then you need to open one street at a time.
You can also use a plastic bottle. The needle from the dropper is fixed in the lid, the tube from the dropper should remain 10-15 cm outside. Bipin's solution is poured into the bottle. It is very easy to spray the drug onto the bees through the dropper tube by squeezing the bottle.
Analogs
Among the treatments for variotosis, the following types of drugs can be distinguished:
- Chemical emulsions – “Amitrazine”, “Apitak” (analogues of “Bipin”), “Bisanar” (thymol + oils), “Aqua-flo” (fluvalinate);
- Natural remedies – fir essential oil (wet the tompons and place them in frames), pine flour (sprinkle on insects), acids – oxalic, formic acid (“Ant”, “VarroNet”);
- Cardboard strips with acaricidal impregnation - “Akarasan”, “Amipol-T”, “Apides”, “Varrosan”, etc. (they burn and treat the hives with smoke);
- Gel (put a bag of medicine at the bottom of the hive) - “Apigel”.
All these medications are aimed at removing ticks. Natural remedies work effectively, but not immediately.
Chemicals destroy quickly and cleanly. In addition, each beekeeper chooses a convenient method of application.
What is a smoke cannon and how to use it?
It is very effective to treat bees with Bipin using a smoke gun. You just need to fumigate the whole hive, and not spray it around the streets. This method is convenient for large apiaries; the whole process is much faster.
The solution is poured into a special tank, where the water evaporates under the influence of temperature from the smoker. Together with the smoke, steam from the solution is sprayed. The mites literally fall off the bees within a quarter of an hour.
Prepare a solution for a smoke cannon at the rate of 40 milliliters per 1 ml of Bipin.
Restrictions, contraindications for use
Since the solution in the smoke gun is a self-igniting substance, you must be extremely careful. You need to beware of mechanical damage to the device, as this may lead to leakage of the working solution. During treatment, it is forbidden to drink, smoke, or eat. It is recommended to wear a gas mask or respirator.
Attention! If there are interruptions in the operation of the smoke gun, you must immediately contact a company that specializes in gas equipment.
Will honey after Bipin be dangerous to human health?
There are many opponents of chemical methods, they argue that this affects the quality of honey and can be harmful to human health.
I will answer this way. If you treat the hives only in the fall, when commercial honey will not be withdrawn, then there is no harm from Bipin. The honey remaining in the hives will be used to feed the bees in winter and spring; by the time of honey collection, the frames and honeycombs are completely clean, thanks to the work of the bees, so the newly collected honey is completely safe for humans.
Benefits of autumn processing
Most experienced beekeepers recommend processing at this time, since the brood is much smaller. Over the summer, the mites parasitizing on bees grew, feeding on the vital juices of the “carriers”. And in order to prepare the swarm for wintering, insects should be rid of pests. Otherwise, few will survive the cold season.
Please note that the treatment is allowed in the spring, but the drug is not used in frosty weather.
Optimal timing, temperature
Let's consider when to treat bees with "Bipin" in the fall. The answer to this question will be given by the bees themselves. The beekeeper needs to observe the behavior of insects. They will begin to form clubs, preparing for the winter, and will stop flying out for a bribe - these are signals that it is time to start treatment.
The preferred temperature range is from +1°C to +5°C.
Special instructions and precautions
If there is no experience in treating bees with chemicals, then it is better for a novice beekeeper to call an experienced person or a veterinarian.
Weak bee colonies are treated with less Bipin, since there are few bees in the streets, and not all 10 ml are sprayed on them, but 3-5-7 ml, here you need to use your eye.
When it is very cold, weak colonies cannot be processed at all; many bees may die from hypothermia.
Do not exceed the dosage in any case; some inexperienced beekeepers use expired medicines, diluting them in less water, because they believe that the old Bipin already has a weak effect and the concentration needs to be increased.
Note!
An important condition is to treat bees in the fall and spring only at above-zero temperatures.
Do not use the solution remaining from the previous treatment for the next one. Each time you need to open and dissolve a new ampoule in water.
Since Bipin is a toxic drug, do not forget about precautions for humans, you need to:
- Wear gloves on your hands, cover your face with a respirator, and preferably cover your eyes with glasses.
- If the drug gets on the skin and mucous membranes, wash it off with water. Therefore, it is so important to work in the wind so that Bipin spray or smoke from fumigation with a smoke gun does not enter the beekeeper’s body.
- Pour the remaining solution into a place inaccessible to animals. Wash or discard containers.
- After work, take off your clothes and put them in the wash, wash your hands and face.
Important!
To treat bees, you need to use Bipin that has not expired.
(Visited 7,306 times, 1 visits today)
Category: Beekeeping for Beginners » 10 answers to questions about treating bees with Bipin
Oxalic acid
Another treatment for varroa is oxalic acid. Unlike formic acid, oxalic acid is more gentle, but no less effective. There are several processing methods: using a spray or steam.
Before using oxalic acid, you must prepare a solution. For this you need 20 grams. Dilute the powder in one liter of water. The result is a 2% concentrated solution. The finished solution is sprayed using special devices, for example, a smoke gun.
You can also use the oxalic acid steam method. This is the most common and very simple method. To build the necessary heating apparatus, you will need a tin box 20-10-1.5 cm (approximate size), inside which an electric coil is placed. An asbestos solution will help you provide electrical insulation. Approximately 2 grams are placed on a ready-made box placed in the hive. oxalic acid and the device is connected to the heating element. After some time, the acid begins to melt and evaporate.
Such treatment with oxalic acid is carried out twice, with an interval of ten days, and only in the fall.
Important to remember:
- the products used to treat bees against diseases are very caustic substances, therefore you need to work with them carefully and only in special clothing and gloves;
- During work, smoking, drinking and eating is strictly prohibited. After work, you must wash your hands thoroughly;
- read the instructions carefully;
- use only the indicated dosages, do not increase them in any case;
- Bipin treatment cannot be carried out in the cold season; spring and autumn are best
Features of solution storage
After treatment, be sure to clean all protective clothing and wash your hands with a disinfectant.
A solution of Bipin with water cannot be stored for more than a day. When mixed with kerosene, it can be stored for a long time, for several months in a dry and dark place. The drug itself cannot be stored in its pure form after opening. The shelf life of the ampoule is 3 years; an expired drug is useless to use.
