200 Colonies, One Question: Rethinking Autumn Varroa Treatment | Wiener Bezirksimkerei

🐝 Dr. Matthias Kopetzky, owner of the Wiener Bezirksimkerei, introduces his organic urban beekeeping business and presents the largest research project it has run so far: a six-week autumn Varroa treatment trial with 200 colonies. 📉 Why it started: two years ago, winter losses reached almost 40%, even though summer treatment had been consistent and mite levels looked moderate. In previous years, losses had rarely gone above 10%. Dr. Kopetzky sees the September Varroa reinvasion around Vienna, and the damage it does to winter bees, as a key cause. 🔬 The project was approved with Biene Österreich and run with university partners from BOKU and Vetmed Vienna. Five groups compared different autumn treatment approaches, with Varroa counts and PCR analysis of viral load at the start and end of the trial. 🍯 His conclusion: this year the Wiener Bezirksimkerei will treat mainly with Calistrip® BIOX by Calier. In his trial, the strips proved reliable and, in his view, very bee-friendly, and their long-term effect closes the reinvasion window without needing to time the treatment exactly. 📌 Chapters 0:00 Welcome to the Wiener Bezirksimkerei 0:57 Honey from all 23 Vienna districts 1:29 Research at the Wiener Bezirksimkerei 2:04 The starting point: almost 40% winter losses 3:37 The September reinvasion problem 4:04 Project Vamos 0 and research partners 5:38 Trial design: five treatment groups 7:49 Bee samples and PCR virus analysis 8:41 Starting values: how the summer treatment worked 10:17 Results after six weeks 11:49 Winter survival results 12:43 Why long-term treatment matters 14:09 Summary and next steps: Wels, EurBee Bologna and a scientific paper 🛒 Buy Calistrip® BIOX: beevital.com/shop 🇩🇪 🇦🇹 🇫🇷 🇨🇿 Calistrip® BIOX is made by Calier and distributed exclusively by BeeVital in Germany, Austria, France, and the Czech Republic. ⚠️ Calistrip® Biox 6.44 g impregnated strip for beehive use for honey bees. Active substance: oxalic acid dihydrate. For the treatment of varroosis (Varroa destructor) in honey bees (Apis mellifera). Wear the usual beekeeper protective clothing and gloves when handling. Withdrawal period: honey 0 days. Read the package leaflet before use. ⚠️ VarroMed® 5 mg/ml + 44 mg/ml dispersion for use in honey bee colonies, formic acid / oxalic acid dihydrate. For the treatment of varroosis (Varroa destructor) in colonies with or without brood. Wear protective clothing, acid-resistant gloves and safety goggles. Withdrawal period: honey 0 days. Read the package leaflet before use. EU/2/16/203. For risks and side effects, read the package leaflet and ask your veterinarian or pharmacist.