Bee Gym Mechanical Control of Varroa Mite

Description

Bee Gym
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eBay item number:
393207437659
The
Bee Gym
is a patented device to assist and improve grooming behavior in honey bees to help them to control varroa mite populations.
T
he
Bee Gym
was developed on the principle that with a simple device bees can be encouraged to groom themselves more effectively to remove varroa mites.
With its unique combination of specifically designed grooming aids, the
Bee Gym
encourages and enhances the natural grooming behavior of honeybees, assisting in the removal of varroa mites from the colony.
Bee Gym
is a device bees use to dislodge or injure varroa mites and other parasites
C
hemical free and works throughout the year
E
asy to install and can be used in any modern hive type with an open mesh floor
S
hould be used within an Integrated Pest Management Strategy
The world’s first grooming assistance device to help bees rid themselves of varroa.
A
framework of wires which enable bees to scrape varroa mites off their backs, together with flippers and scrapers that help the bees to remove mites from their abdomen.
Dislodged and damaged mites will fall to the bottom of the hive, so an open mesh floor should be used and emptied regularly.
Bees voluntarily use the
Bee Gym
throughout the year, including during a honey flow, and even form a winter cluster around it to enable improved grooming during cold periods.
C
an then be left in place all year, except for an annual clean.
The
Bee Gym
is extremely easy to deploy, simply place it on an open mesh hive floor during a routine inspection.
The
Bee Gym
should be positioned in a busy part of the colony, either on the mesh floor about 2 cm back from the hive entrance or on top of the brood frames in a spacer.
Orient the device so that the
Bee Gym
name is uppermost and faces the opening in the hive entrance block.
Check that the wire loops are tight and that the flippers are located in their sockets. The wires and small plastic flippers point upwards.
To maintain the
Bee Gym
, soak it in a bucket of soda solution, then replace within the hive. The
Bee Gym
can stay in the hive all year round.
The Advantages of
Bee Gym
Chemical Free
:
Bee Gym
is a physical grooming aid for bees.
Economical
: High durability and no on-going costs, making it a highly economical investment.
No extra apiary visits
:
Can be left in the hive all through the year.
Specific
: Foragers returning with full pollen baskets choose to avoid the
Bee Gym
, so there is no risk of pollen being lost.
Sustainable
: Encourages the natural grooming behaviour of honeybees, resulting in more hygienic colonies, better able to manage varroa infestations.
Integrated
: An ideal component in an Integrated Pest Management approach to varroa control.
Tips for Use
Position the Bee Gym in a busy part of the colony, about 2 cm back from the hive entrance or on top of the brood frames in a spacer.
Use a sticky floor (coat a white piece of paper or cardboard with Vaseline) to observe mite drop. These should be refreshed regularly.
OR Use the
Bee Gym
with an open mesh floor so that the varroa mites drop out of jumping reach of the hive.
Leave a space between the hive entrance and the
Bee Gym
so that pollen-laden foragers are able to avoid the framework.
Move the
Bee Gym
around the hive when convenient so that it stimulates more interest from the bees.
Leave the
Bee Gym
in place throughout the year as it improves grooming, helping bees to rid themselves of varroa mites.
Ensure there is sufficient gap (at least 15 mm) for bees to move around the
Bee Gym
to fully utilize it.
Clean the
Bee Gym
with washing soda periodically to remove excess propolis. Don’t worry if the bees propolize the frame a little – the grooming flippers and scrapers will not be affected.
The original Bee Gym is usually placed on the floor of the hive.
Clusters of dead mites directly under Bee Gyms indicate the effectiveness of the grooming aid.
Use as part of an IPM system to control Varroa Mites such as Apiguard, Formic Pro, Apistan, or MiteAway.