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Author Topic: Hive day after Mite-a-way Treatment (Formic Acid)  (Read 6599 times)

Offline capt44

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Hive day after Mite-a-way Treatment (Formic Acid)
« on: September 26, 2013, 01:29:47 pm »
The temperatures have fallen below the 90 degree F mark for a few days so I started Treating my hives with Formic Acid.
I placed 2 strips on top of the brood box and will treat for 5 days.
I treated this way last year and had very good results in the spring with hive populations ready to explode on March 4th of this year.
Here is a picture of one of my hives at day 3 of the treatment.


Richard Vardaman (capt44)

Offline MsCarol

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Re: Hive day after Mite-a-way Treatment (Formic Acid)
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2013, 11:00:28 am »
I am TOO new at this to comment, but it looks to me the bees are not too happy about this procedure. Is there a risk that they will "split the fix" and abscond?

Offline buzzbee

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Re: Hive day after Mite-a-way Treatment (Formic Acid)
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2013, 06:39:33 pm »
This is common with the addition of quick strips. It usually only lasts a day or two. Adding more supers above the brrod nest will also give the bees room to move up inside the hive above the strip treatment. I know several people who have used it without any troubles, although I have read, and only read, about queen mortality.

Offline capt44

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Re: Hive day after Mite-a-way Treatment (Formic Acid)
« Reply #3 on: October 02, 2013, 11:40:03 am »
Day 4 the bees had moved back into the hive.
At the end of Day 5 I went to remove the Mite-a-Way Strips but only found 1.
The bees had already removed one strip.
In another hive I went in to remove the acid strips but did not find any.
The bees had cleaned and removed the Acid Strips out of the hive.
I had a high varroa mite drop, but the hive beetles are still a problem.
I've noticed the Small Hive Beetles have been worse this year.
Richard Vardaman (capt44)

Offline Finski

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Re: Hive day after Mite-a-way Treatment (Formic Acid)
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2013, 02:55:13 am »
,
If you look formic acid usage advices, 20C / 70C Fahrenheit is safe tempereture to use formic acid.

http://www.apinovar.com/articles/flash.en.html

77F is a limit that you start to loose your queens.

.
« Last Edit: October 14, 2013, 03:38:44 am by Finski »
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Offline capt44

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Re: Hive day after Mite-a-way Treatment (Formic Acid)
« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2013, 09:51:43 pm »
All I can say is I treat with Mite-a-way strips when the temperature is below 90F for a period of 7 days or so.
I treat with 2 strips for 5 days.
I treated with Formic Acid at these temperatures for 3 years now and have had very good results.
Even the instructions that came with the formic acid said not to treat above 90F.
I am thinking of switching next year so the mites won't become tolerant of it.
Richard Vardaman (capt44)

 

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