Thermosolar Hive – Kills 100% Of Varroa Mites

Thermosolar Hive – Kills 100% Of Varroa Mites

There is a very new, very innovative, potentially very exciting beehive currently looking for crowd funding (closes 25 June 2016). It’s inventor and team claim this hive can kill 100% of varroa mites without chemicals – and I’m inclined to believe them.  I would be very interested to know what you all think – please comment.

Thermosolar Hive
Thermosolar Hive

Thermosolar Hive – How It Works

  1. Varroa mites are killed at temperatures above 40C.  Honeybees, their brood and the frames are not affected at this temperature
  2. The beekeeper removes the outer cover of the hive and the thermosolar ceiling is exposed to the sun and heats the hive.  The required temperature is reached for a 2 hour period using this ceiling, a specially designed hive body and sensors that tell you the temperature reached in the hive
  3. All the varroa on brood get killed as do varroa on house bees (this represents high proportion of the varroa).  Varroa on flying bees or bees outside the hive, do not have a long life (3-5 days) , these varroa go to reproduce and then get trapped under the capped brood and hence the second treatment 7-14 days later ensures 100% of mites killed (you will want to treat all hives in apiary at same time to ensure varroa transferred between hives get eliminated in treatment 1 or 2)
  4. I.e. no chemicals are used to kill the varroa, only the heat from the sun
Thermosolar Hive - Ceiling & Sensors
Thermosolar Hive – Ceiling & Sensors

How To Use It

  1. With 2 treatments spaced 7-14 days apart, they claim 100% of mites will be killed
  2. Each treatment involves heating the hive to 40C-47C for a 2 hour period
  3. It is recommended that this is done twice a year.  Before you put supers on for the honey flow and then again after the supers have been removed for harvesting
  4. More information: Thermosolar Hive

Thermosolar Hive – The Evidence

  1. 100 beekeepers have tested the hive in different environment conditions and there are case studies on their website that the hive works and kills Varroa with great success. Link to case studies.
  2. A university has used 5 Thermosolar hives and compared the results of thermotherapy with other hives where the thermotherapy was not done. The research is completed and their article is in review phase in scientific journal. Roman assures me that the results are excellent
  3. The Thermosolar Hive team provide evidence here: Research
  4. Furthermore Dr. Roman Linhart has good credentials: 25 years as a beekeeper (some of that as a professional), a doctorate and 10 years developing this hive.  More about Dr Roman Linhart
  5. I have also written more about this hive at Further Answers & Video

I am not here to promote this hive – I want to know your thoughts.

Crowdfunding

If you want to help this team fund this new beehive, please go to the crowdfunding site: Indiegogo.  This page also allows you to buy one (or more) of their hives.  It also has a video on this hive.  Worth a look.

Other Important Information

I had a whole load of questions when I read about this hive, a lot of which are answered on their website. Here are some of the key facts, that might save you time from hunting on their website.

  • You need to buy their hive, you can not simply put the thermosolar ceiling on your hives
  • You can buy the hive now from the crowdfunding site: Indiegogo.
  • First deliveries estimated to be December 2016
  • This hive has other claimed health benefits for the bees – please visit their website
  • The FAQ page will answer many of your questions
  • Company based in Czech Republic

In Conversation With Dr. Roman Linhart

Dr Roman Linhart
Dr Roman Linhart

I have been in email conversation with Roman, the inventor and founder with respect to answers I could not find on their website. Here is a sample:

Q1. Are your hive boxes more insulated than standard cedar frames?

They are insulated more, insulation of the hive is equal to 6 cm of polystyrene, although polystyrene is not used for it (special foils are used). The only place where the polystyrene is used is the outer cover which is outside the hive.

Q2. What material are the hive boxes made from to make it more insulated than standard hives?

Boxes are made from 3 segments: wooden outer part made of high-quality wood (very important because some wood can be damaged if the temperature during treatment went over 40°C); special thermo-foils reflecting temperature back to the inner parts of the hive; inner segment used for preventing the bees of getting into contact with foils.

Q3. What do the windows do?  Help warm it up generally? To allow one to look in?  But bees like dark space?

It is not only a window made of glass. It is more complicated device containing glasses, coatings, insulation and active layer. It is not possible to see inside and there is no light entering the hive this way, so it is dark inside as in classical hives. They are used to slightly help with thermal support of the colony and also help during the thermotherapy, when the main source of heat is activated. Main source is thermosolar ceiling placed under the outer cover (roof). However, it is usually used only two times per year. Windows are used permanently with the exception of very hot summer days (above 35°C) when they can be shaded. They help during the winter, with early spring development of the colony and it thermally support the brood, part of honey used for heating the brood is saved (there is significantly higher honey yield, especially in the spring). Most importantly it limits the reproduction of the mites, because only slightly higher temperature above normal brood rearing temperature damage the mites (36 – 38°C for a long time is already a problem for Varroa). Many of the beekeepers who have tested the hive have zero mites fall after the thermosolar treatment at the end of summer or in the beginning of autumn. It was caused by the long term thermal support by the windows, because mites have been already eliminated even before thermosolar treatment itself (but it does not happen in all cases, so the thermosolar treatment and the device for it is necessary). Long term thermal support with slightly higher brood temperatures damaged them and prevent their reproduction. It also helps the colony, according to our experience and also experience of the beekeepers, colonies in Thermosolar hives are usually strongest in the apiary.

Q4. I use 14×12 nationals.  Is your brood box available in this size?

Thermosolar Hive can be manufactured in any dimension, however, we recommend that the brood box is higher than 20 cm. So 14×12 is ideal.

Q5. Is your hive compatible with racks of Ross Rounds?

We haven’t got experience with Ross Rounds. But as I see, they are used in the honey boxes, so there should be no problem with it.

Q6. Can I just put regular supers on top of the hives or my Ross Round racks?

Thermosolar hive is special construction, there are many parts that are necessary and there is also insulation. It is therefore compatible with the frames, but not with supers of regular hive. So you can’t put classical super on the thermosolar super because their dimensions are different. We provide Thermosolar hive with 3 supers. They are used as brood and honey supers. You can use your Ross Round racks without any problems in the thermosolar super used as the honey super.

Q7. This treatment cannot be started until external temperatures are 20C.  In the UK, most beekeepers would have a super on by this point, even with a 14×12 brood box. I assume you would need to shake the bees off the super and then start the treatment?

There are two treatments in the spring, which are optional and two treatments at the end of summer, which are important, because you need to protect long living winter bees. So only the treatment in the late summer (usually August or beginning of September) is necessary. I hope you have at this time day high temperatures over 20C. This does not mean that you need to wait until outside temperature reaches 20C to start treatment, but you can start in the morning if you know that temperature around noon will be higher than 20C. Treatment is done at the time when no honey supers are mounted and the season is over, you don’t need to move bees from honeys super to the brood box. It is also possible to close the hive entrance and this measure is often done in the early spring when outer temperatures are not high enough. However, this measure is not ideal for beginners, it is better to start with an easy thermotherapy.

Q8. What temperature kills small hive beetle?  Maybe 40-47C is enough to kill this parasite too?

I am not sure about small hive beetle. I don’t know any studies or experience with its elimination by heat. Also we don’t have this pest in our country, so our experience is limited only on the literature.

Q9. Do these temperatures kill other parasites?

We are sure that it helps on Nosema Apis problem, thermotherapy is one of its solutions.

Q10. When is the university paper coming out?  Which university?

It is Palacky University in cooperation with University of South Bohemia. We are not sure about the exact date.  They have told us about the results (which are good) and that the article is finished and now in the review phase. It might be a few months.

Q11. Can one use a normal queen excluder and clearer boards with your hive?

Yes, queen excluders are no problem, the clearer boards are the same. You just need the right dimensions and you can apply it normally.

Q12. I have read and emailed you the research paper that says brood can be killed above 40C. What is your evidence that this is not the case?

I have read the same article you emailed me some time ago and have a knowledge of other similar themes. In the paper you sent, strong and long-term deviations from the normal brood rearing temperatures are what is damaging the brood. In the paper, the brood was at the higher temperature for 24 hours per day, day-by-day of its rearing. The Thermosolar Hive thermally supports the colony and this can raise the temperature to 36-38ºC on hot, sunny summer days. However, this temperature is maintained for only a few hours per day, usually about 2 to 5 hours. And not every day – it can be cloudy or outside temperatures can be lower to achieve this. So in normal summer in England, it can be in average 2 or 3 days per week, so lets say approximately 4 to 15 hours per week. This is a huge difference if compared with 168 hours per week in laboratory. This slightly higher brood temperature a few times per week damage the varroa mites and disable their reproduction. That is why there are no mites at the end of summer in most of the hives even without the 2 hour thermotherapy treatments at 40-47C. If we talk only about the thermotherapy treatments, it is done only 2 (or optionally 4) times per year and higher temperatures are maintained only for few hours. Another important point during thermotherapy is humidity. Humidity is much lower than normal. It is the same effect as if you go to sauna. There can be temperatures even higher than 100ºC and you can enjoy it. Humidity is the key, because there is a very low humidity in the sauna. If the humidity would be high, you can’t survive 100ºC. It is the same with our thermotherapy: short term heating with low humidity is without problem. Young house bees stay on the brood at temperatures between 40-47ºC, because they don’t have hardened cuticle and can cool themselves as we do in sauna. The rest of the bees with hardened cuticle is in lower parts of the hive with lower temperatures. However, practice is the most important for us. We and beekeepers who use the hive know that the brood is not damaged and the bees in Thermosolar hives are very strong and have higher honey yields. This is probably the best answer from practice. If the hive would damage the brood, the opposite would be true.

Q13. And what about hot countries and states?  Is the Thermosolar Hive relevant to them?

States like Texas are completely ok. If there are very hot sunny days over 35C, it is better to shade the windows. Hive is insulated, so is better suited against hot weather than classical hives (heat does not enter the hive thanks to insulation). Only the windows (oriented South-South-East) can make the difference. In the summer they work best in the morning until the noon. Around 12:00 sun is high on the sky and only small part of sunrays shine on the windows. In the afternoon this situation deepens even more – sun goes slowly down, but it moves to the west, so energy from the sunshine is minimal. Therefore sunny days with temperatures around 30C are ok. And when there are very hot days reaching 40C, beekeeper needs to shade the windows. It is easier for bees to cool down this hive than if it was a classical thin-walled hive.

In Conversation With Professor Francis Ratnieks, University of Sussex

I have been in email conversation with Professor Ratnieks, Labatory of Apiculture & Social Insects (LASI), leading expert on honeybees.

He needs to see the published University research and evidence (mentioned above) before being more convinced by this new hive.  And this will not be available until later in 2016.

He pointed me to a 2010 review “Biology and control of Varroa destructor” [link opens the PDF] by Peter Rosenkranz, Pia Aumeier & Bettina Ziegelmann and particularly to Table 2 where it says “… application of heat to isolated brood combs or whole colonies … is effective (especially on brood mites in treated brood combs) but costly on a time and material basis”.

Conversations On Beekeeping Forums

I have been onto a few beekeeping forums to gather opinion. This is evolving. In summary, some people are hopeful others are sceptical.  There is a level of debate, often laugh-out-loud and humorous, some happy that inventors are looking at ways of combatting varroa without chemicals and  some with concerns it will harm the brood.  I asked the Thermosolar Hive team re this concern on harming brood which is in the Q&A above.

Interesting links provided on forums:

My Conclusion

I agree with Professor Ratnieks – we need to see the University results – out later in 2016.

Dear readers – grateful for any questions and comments.  You never know Roman or Jan might come and answer some of them.

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Author: Roger

regaining my sanity through beekeeping

12 thoughts on “Thermosolar Hive – Kills 100% Of Varroa Mites”

  1. Very interesting article. I’ve just started bee keeping and bought through crowd funding, the Flowhive. I love the idea you don’t have to disturb the bees while harvesting honey. I wonder how this would work with this hive!
    I have also built a top-bar Hive. The idea that the bees form the honeycomb naturally. How would heating the hive to this temperature affect the honeycomb and would it fall off the top bar?
    As I’m so new to keeping bees these might be naieve questions but I’m learning every day.
    Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
    Happy beekeeping.
    Gervase

    1. Hi Gervase, Flow frames are compactible with Thermosolar Hive, we have consult it with the Flow hive team because many beekeepers asked us the same question. Generaly Flow focus on the honey super and easier honey extraction, Thermosolar hive focus on the brood box and ecological elimination of Varroa destructor and other benefits. We have not tested it yet, but there is obviously no problem to combine both. Thermal treatment is done at the time when honey supers (and Flow frames) are already not mounted, after the honey season is over.

      Top bar hive is not ideal for heating the brood because of its horizontal construction. Several problems would appear. Maybe it is technically possible, but it will be definitely hard to achieve regular heating of only a part of the hive and maintaining some area with lower temperatures for the older bees + some other problems. We will try to find some solution in the future, but it will take some time and we are not sure if this will be possible. Vertical construction, such as Thermosolar Hive has, is the easiest solution.

      Roman

  2. I read about this a few weeks ago and I’m fascinated. If it works (and it looks like it does) it gives me hope that I won’t have to give up beekeeping when (not if) varroa hits Australia. Beekeeping is so easy here compared with what the rest of the world battles with but just maybe it can become easy for everyone.

    I’m going to keep my eye on this solution – please let us know when you hear more.

  3. Wouldn’t it be easier and cheap to stick a little heater in twice a year with a thermostat to regulate to 40C? Or am I missing something?

    1. On the Thermosolar Hive website, another person asks the same question. They respond: Definitely not. It is impossible to do thermal treatment in classicaly constructed Langstroth and definitely not with “one point” heater per box. We are very sure about it, because it is not possible even with much more sophisticated point heaters. Not mentioning the impact on the nearest frames.

      1. Roger, thank you for posting the answer and for this article!

        Jim, it would be easier and cheaper, but it would not work and would be risky for the bees, brood and combs. It is not possible to do a thermotherapy in classical hives because bees can easily ventilate heat from one source or heat from more sources that are not powerful enough. Hive must be well insulated and have powerful sources of heat which radiates the heat instead of blowing it inside. On the other hand heat must be distributed slowly, gradually and equally around the brood box. There is a problem that powerful source inside the hive can easily damage the combs. Moreover, placement of the heat sources are very imporatnt for the circulation of air. And there are other small factors which are together necessary in the hive construction. It is a complex of prerequisites which are essential for the thermotherapy. We have worked on it for many years and have constructed many prototypes before we have achieved the desired effect without any risks for the colony. It is not easy to do the theromotherapy without a sophisticated device.

  4. Even if every beekeeper everywhere used this, it would not wipe out mites (because of feral colonies). It would just select for bees that can’t deal with mites (the way all treatments do). Until beekeepers stop coddling every single colony and let only the strong survive, these inventions will keep popping up and the bees’ will be no better off in the long term.

  5. This hive is too expensive for the Hungarian beekeeper and here we use the hunor frame and 1/2 nagyboczonadi frame. $690 is equivalent to 180Kg acacia honey which may take a bee colony 7 years to produce. Maybe the western beekeepers will buy this hive but it is too expensive for central Europeans.

    1. Hi Miklos,
      Thanks for your comments.
      Is this hive being written about in Hungary? Where did you first hear about it?
      If it’s successful, hopefully the price will come down and make it more accessible to a wider group of beekeepers.
      Roger

  6. The cost affects all beekeepers. Has any experimentation been done with using a top window designed to fit over a standard wooden hive as an alternative roof – admittedly it would be less efficient than the full set of equipment but would it be enough to reduce the mite population to acceptable levels to go through the winter?

  7. Hi Roger I’ve been toying with the idea of buying one of these for a quite a while now, but it is a substantial investment. I read with interest the information on Romans website and would be interested in feedback on the following 3 questions:

    1.The website mentions the option to use the thermo hive as a treatment hive for all hives for small beekeepers- moving bees in and out to be heat exposed.

    Although this sounds like a lot of disruption for the bees (and beekeeper), it would make it slightly more economically viable if I could use one thermo hive to treat a number of mine in a single apiary. Has anyone tried and if so how do they manage it practically and was it effective?

    2. Is the research paper now available and if so, from where?

    3. Cleaning the hive and repairing damage. How does one maintain and clean them – any issues to be aware of?

    and – how did you manage to get 2 free – wow!

    1. 1. You could do it … but that would be quite intensive. Also only takes 8 frames in the brood box … so not easy.

      2. Not that I am aware of.

      3. I haven’t cleaned yet. See the PDF I uploaded on the hive. Has all the details. Follow this link: Thermosolar Hive guide.

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