Cage Queen |Varroa Control in Honey Bee Colonies

Written by EJbees in Manage Pests,Mites,Varroa Mites 

This method is a combination of biotechnical and chemical treatment. It is based on the fact that mites are located on adult bees when the brood is interrupted and absent from the colony.

This is achieved by caging the Queen for a period of 25 days; then oxalic acid is applied in the colony with the trickling method.

This video is a practical demonstration of the “Queen caging” method, which is part of the handbook for “Alternative methods for Varroa control in honey bee colonies”, developed in the frame of the Nature Conservation Programme in North Macedonia – phase 2 (NCP), a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), coordinated by Farmahem-Skopje.

Preparations

During the first use, the cage is mounted with the help of a sharp blade on the frame with a built comb. It is recommended that the frames with mounted cages be prepared in advance.

  • Queen Sequestration Cage

Step 1 

The beekeeper should first find the Queen in the colony.  Then place the Queen into the mounted cage (above).   This frame is put in a central position in the colony to simplify and accelerate the work when the hive is opened.  Marking the frame makes this process easier.

Step 2 (25 days later)

25 days after the Queen’s caging, the cage is opened and released. Since there is no brood in the colony, the mites are located on adult bees.  This results in greater efficiency of the oxalic acid.  

With the trickling method, the oxalic acid is applied in the space between the frames but directly above the bees.  

Proper timing using this method can result in an efficient summer treatment for mite control.  Hopefully, this will ensure a successful wintering and spring development of your honey colonies in the following season.

Instruction how to use the Queen Cage from the manufacturer.

Always follow the manufacture’s guidelines when applying oxalic acid. 

You can get your queen sequestration cage @ Urbanbee for $6.50 per cage, great people to work with; I paid no shipping or tax. They’re based in the greater Seattle area.

Recent Posts