Varroa Mite Wash with CO2 Gun

NO MORE DEAD BEES!

The Varroa Mite container with a CO2 gun makes easy work in detecting Varroa in your colony.  Use the CO2 gun to put your bees to sleep and then gently shake the container.  In the CO2 method, bees and mites are rendered unconscious by exposure to carbon dioxide gas. The sample of anesthetized bees is then gently shaken in the EasyCheck, causing the mites to fall from the bees and pass through the white basket’s holes.   This is an important tool to have, in your beekeeping supplies, for reliable Varroa monitoring. It provides beekeepers, both commercial and hobbyists, a way to diagnose Varroa infestation levels quickly and efficiently. We highly recommend for all beekeepers to have one of these.

Made from durable plastic with a tight-fitting, leak-free lid, and features 2 molded guidelines on the basket to know how many bees are collected. Mites pass through holes in the base and sides of the filter basket. The transparent bowl allows for accurate counting and reliable sampling.

Instructions
1. Collect the Bees: Pour just enough of the liquid in the bottom of the container to cover the bottom of the white basket.
                – Choose a frame of capped brood and locate the queen, isolate and protect her.

                – When the desired level of bees is reached**, place the basket into the bowl.

– Then spray the CO2 into the container with the lid closed except for a small opening to spray the CO2 within the container.

                – Collect a sample of bees* and place it inside the basket. You can collect the sample using the device (keeping the basket inside the bowl) or you can use your own preferred method.

                – Place and twist the cover into place and shake gently to dislodge the Varroa from the honey bees.

                – Remove the lid and take the fill bowl with the bees and place them near the hive.

– Then count the Varroa in the bottom of the container.

2. Counting
                – Count the mites by looking through the transparent bowl or after removing the basket of bees.
                
                *Recommended sample size is about 300 bees (top level indicated on the basket. **Minimum       sampling is 200 bees (bottom level indicated on the basket).

How to calculate the percentage of infestation?
    – If a 300 sample was used, divide the number of observed mites by 3.
    – For a 200 sample, divide the number of mites by 2.

Comes with the following:  (1) Varroa Check container, (1) CO2 Gun, (1) CO2 Cartridge.