A Vienna-based SME has developed the Varroa Controller (VC), which efficiently combats Varroa mite infestations in bee colonies using heat treatment (hyperthermia). The method leverages the fact that bee pupae can tolerate higher temperatures than Varroa mites. The treatment keeps mite populations low, ensuring healthy bee colonies without chemicals. The VC is already tested and on the market. Partners are sought for distribution services agreements that also conduct training workshops.
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The engineers working in this Vienna-based SME can draw on 30 years of experience in the development and implementation of circular and environmentally friendly products and services. One of their products is the Varroa Controller, which effectively uses a thermal method to minimize Varroa mite populations in beehives.
Varroa mites have become resistant to an increasing number of classical chemical treatments resulting in the need for alternative treatment options.
Warmer winters result in shorter or no disruption of the breeding cycle of the bees – this provides ideal development conditions for the Varroa mite. Due to the climate change-induced overlapping of the honey harvesting period and the classical chemical-based treatments, there is a potential contamination risk for the bees. Therefore, bee keepers are “running out of time” or cannot use the late blooming seasons for beehive treatment. An effective treatment that can be applied early in the year is therefore required.
With keeping Varroa at a low threshold inside the hive, it is ensured that a healthy strong bee colony can be maintained. One efficient and bee-friendly method to keep a low threshold of mites is heat treatment, also known as hyperthermia.
The basic principle behind hyperthermia is that the Varroa Controller takes advantage of the fact that the mite tolerates less heat than the bee pupae. Both are locked in the capped brood cell. By taking out the frames with capped brood cells and exposing them to a specific temperature for a specific time, the mite will die within 20 hours, due to the induction of heat shock proteins, that cause cell damages leading to the mite’s death.
The Varroa Controller is a metal device in which the pre-programmed treatment runs fully automatically. This device has been designed exclusively for the treatment of capped bee brood.
According to the development of the bee colony and the mite population, three heat treatments during the year are recommended: a first treatment in spring, a summer treatment and a fall treatment. With this treatment regime, the mite has no chance to harm the hive and consequently the colonies stay healthy.
Currently, the 3rd generation of the Varroa Controller is on the market. It is developed and produced by the company and has already been tested thoroughly. It is available in three different sizes (Light, Standard and XLarge) covering the standard sizes of the brood frames.
The company is looking for distribution partners worldwide for the marketing and non-exclusive distribution of the Varroa Controller in their countries. These commercial partners will be provided with the support services needed for the technology transfer.