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Author Topic: Formic acid and mites  (Read 1632 times)

Offline limyw

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Formic acid and mites
« on: August 27, 2006, 11:43:53 am »
I recently used formic acid (100%) to kill varroa mites. Fill an open top aluminium can (Cola can etc) with about 50ml formic acid and place into hive, cover with a mesh to prevent bees from dropping in. The effect is fantastic. However, a serious problem that I cant solve is queen tend to abscond if the colony is weak. I believe this is due strong odour that forced the queen to leave. I tried to cage the queen while placing acid but some queen died in the cage. Anyone has experience about using this chemical and what is the best solution? Maybe I should reduce formic acid to 70% or etc?
lyw

Offline Michael Bush

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Formic acid and mites
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2006, 03:23:12 pm »
The studies I've seen say that losing queens is one of the side effects.  I haven't had the problem with Oxalic acid vapor.
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Offline Finsky

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Formic acid and mites
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2006, 04:27:30 pm »
When you heat oxalic acid, it turns to  formic acid.

 

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