Anybody here been beekeeping in Spain

[snoop]

I know this is a UK forum , but has anybody here been a beekeeper in Spain or know one. I am trying to find out which product the beekeepers on the ground have a preference for APivar or Apitraz, are there side effects and what are the efficacy's of both?

 

[MuswellMetro]

I know this is a UK forum , but has anybody here been a beekeeper in Spain or know one. I am trying to find out which product the beekeepers on the ground have a preference for APivar or Apitraz, are there side effects and what are the efficacy's of both?

both apivar, Biovar500 and apitraz500 ( apitraz500 is now approved in uk) have 500mg of amitraz insecticide in a plastic strip delivery system

some reports on spainish forums say the spanish made apitraz500 delivery system is less stable and kills less varroa than apivar or Biovar 500(Polish) but i can find no research done

it could well be that what was being seen was varroa developing resistance to Amitraz

i am rather disappointed apitraz has been approved in UK as previously 500mg amitraz strip on Veterinary licence was the silver bullet and drops were high at 99% because Amitraz was used very occasionally due to need of a veterinary prescription but with it on general sale and people not following instruction etc etc Apitraz500 will be used uk wide and soon be as useless as Apistan

 

[sean-a]

I spoke to a Spaniard earlier this year who had 100+ hives. He was telling me that he used a copper strip to control varroa, and that they didnt use OA or anything else. Claimed it was really effective.

 

[Anduril]

I spoke to a Spaniard earlier this year who had 100+ hives. He was telling me that he used a copper strip to control varroa, and that they didnt use OA or anything else. Claimed it was really effective.

I heard that a few years ago, I believe it was used in New Zealand. I've tried it with the copper slug tape, on a nuc box and forgot all about it until now. The electric charge is supposed to repel the varroa as the bees enter. Juries still out.

 

[Beefriendly]

Juries still out.

Aye, obviously not sober with that dfat idea.
If controlling varroa was that simple we would all do it.

 

[Anduril]

https://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=16224
http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?195827-Copper-for-Mite-control
http://www.beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=13637.0
Plenty of discussion.

 

[Beefriendly]

It can be discussed ad infinitum. It still won't work.