This alcohol wash kit is used to test the load of varroa mites that are present in a colony. In area where varroa is present beekeepers should be testing every 4 weeks (except during cold winters). Alcohol washes are a more accurate testing measure than sugar shakers and are needed to establish when mite levels have reached chemical treatment threasholds.
Our alcohol wash jars are made from sturdy plastic with an innner basket that allows varroa to be easily seperated from the mites. The seal and lid clips prevent leaking of your alcohol or methylated spirits, and allow samples to be conveniently carried out of the apiary for closer inspection later.
We recommend scooping up a 1/2 cup of bees to get an accurate sample size but the jar is labeled with a "bee line" that indicates where your bee sample should fill to in the jar.
ALCOHOL WASH INSTRUCTIONS
- Select a brood frame and carefuly inspect it to ensure your queen is not present
- Shake the bees off the frame into a large tub
- Tip the bees into a corner of the tub (or upside down lid), scoop up half a cup of bees and tip them into the jar (with the inner basket inside)
- (If you don't have a tube and half cup available you can shake the bees onto a piece of newspaper and use it to funnel bees into the jar- up to the "bee line")
- Pour methylated spirts (or 70% isopropyl alcohol or 70% ethanol) over the bees until they are covered (approx 150mls)
- Clip on the lid and shake the sample for 20 seconds
- Inspect the fluid for any mites
- Repeat the 15 second shake and check twice more
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