Api bioxal treatment

[BernardBlack]

I carry out the api-bioxal trickling around new year, as I don’t use the vapouriser.

Obviously to get at the main cluster in the Brood box, supers have to be removed temporarily.

Would you recommend replacing the super(s) again straightaway after trickling, or keeping them off the hive for a day or two, in case it taints the honey?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I used to just trickle through the supers when some eejit at the association insisted on leaving some on

 

[Erichalfbee]

Obviously to get at the main cluster in the Brood box, supers have to be removed temporarily.

Trickle through them. Try not leaving any on though in the first place.

 

[BernardBlack]

Is there a guide to what is an acceptable numbers of varroa drop after winter treatment?

I’m thinking my numbers seemed a bit high.

Over a 4 day period:

Hive 1 = 228 mites (57 per day)
Hive 2 = 255 mites (64 per day)

Any thoughts?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

doesn't really matter - you've just killed them all - it's not an indication of the colony's 'natural' mite load

 

[Ian123]

Is there a guide to what is an acceptable numbers of varroa drop after winter treatment?

I’m thinking my numbers seemed a bit high.

Over a 4 day period:

Hive 1 = 228 mites (57 per day)
Hive 2 = 255 mites (64 per day)

Any thoughts?

There’s no right or wrong number after a winter treatment, your trying to kill as many as possible in a broodless period. If you think numbers are high, what did you use in the autumn?

 

[BernardBlack]

There’s no right or wrong number after a winter treatment, your trying to kill as many as possible in a broodless period. If you think numbers are high, what did you use in the autumn?

I didn’t treat them in autumn, as mite count was low, and didn’t feel the need to do it.

The winter numbers just felt bigger now though, than other years.

Must go back to my records and see if I recorded winter drop numbers.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I didn’t treat them in autumn, as mite count was low, and didn’t feel the need to do it.

How did you measure it?

 

[Ian123]

I didn’t treat them in autumn, as mite count was low, and didn’t feel the need to do it.

The winter numbers just felt bigger now though, than other years.

Must go back to my records and see if I recorded winter drop numbers.

I’d suggest the lack of an autumn treatment is a mistake particularly if you relying on a drop measurement. Even a single vape would give a better idea. There’s options for Autumn treatments and it’s the most critical time of year. Whilst winter oxalic will give you as clean a start as possible for this coming season it’s last Autumns treatment that gives you healthy bees heading into winter, it’s also the time that mite levels and be numbers will really will be out of sync.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I didn’t treat them in autumn

The winter numbers just felt bigger now though

maybe because you didn't bother treating them in September

studying natural mite drop on an inspection tray is about as useful to calculating varroa load as slicing open a live chicken and inspecting its entrails

 

[BernardBlack]

How did you measure it?

I did a few sugar rolls.