3 ms·
1. How long-lasting is the effect? How long does the LiCl stay "active"? Will bees need to be fed this at a regular cadence to keep them mite free? The paper s
by xyzzyz 9y ago
1. How long-lasting is the effect? How long does the LiCl stay "active"? Will bees need to be fed this at a regular cadence to keep them mite free?
The paper says that a single feeding achieved good results, though worse than continued feeding spanning a few days. It seems then that a single treatment will only kill mites that are already in the hive, but will not do anything to help develop immunity. Looks like bee keepers will just have to add lithium compounds to the list of treatments they already regularly apply.
2. Is there any evidence on whether or not the LiCl makes its way into the honey produced by treated bees?
The paper mentions that it doesn’t accumulate in bees wax, though it says nothing about the honey. They discuss potential toxicity though, and it seems that lithium is not toxic to mammals in concentrations relevant here. Certainly there is no bioaccumulation effect here that makes eating fish somewhat dangerous.
- jandrese 9y agoOnly doing a single feeding seems like a great way to breed resistance in the mites.
- lostlogin 9y agoBroodless bees don’t need treating for long with most treatments - it’s the brood that’s hard to hit. That said, avoiding resistance is important.
- zafka 9y agoI would guess that a small amount would get in the honey the bees were making at that time, but beekeepers would not harvest that honey. When many flowers are blooming, a second box is added to the hive just for honey( a super). At this time the beekeeper does no additional feeding.
- lostlogin 9y agoMost treatment see the honey supers removed to avoid contamination. There are a few exception which don’t require this, like oxalic acid. When the honey flow starts, you need to add boxes fast - I’m up to 7 and 2 of those have been removed, extracted and put back on.