Apiguard "failed". What to do?

[Tigger]

Put Apiguard on 3 hives on 3 September. Same time gave fondant, using super as an eke.
Another Apiguard after 2 weeks.
Through Oct I measured Varroa drop.
Unused fondant removed 22 Oct.
Continues to be 10-12 varroa per day on all three hives.
There are plenty of bees in each and brood boxes are very heavy.

After reading and thinking about it I wonder should I have

1. Not given feed at same time.
2. Blocked up all vents (I thought Apiguard is dispersed by bees bringing it down?)
3. Used much more shallow ekes.

But most importantly. What should I do now?

Thanks folks.

 

[elainemary]

Put Apiguard on 3 hives on 3 September. Same time gave fondant, using super as an eke.
Another Apiguard after 2 weeks.
Through Oct I measured Varroa drop.
Unused fondant removed 22 Oct.
Continues to be 10-12 varroa per day on all three hives.
There are plenty of bees in each and brood boxes are very heavy.

After reading and thinking about it I wonder should I have

1. Not given feed at same time.
2. Blocked up all vents (I thought Apiguard is dispersed by bees bringing it down?)
3. Used much more shallow ekes.

But most importantly. What should I do now?

Thanks folks.

Hi there
1. Not supposed to feed at same time as treat. The bees prefer the feed so can ignore the Apiguard also they become more susceptible to robbing when using Apiguard and feeding together. If they rob another colony (Eg outside your apiary) that’s collapsing they’ll bring a new set of mites back with them)
2. Outside (not hive) temperature has to be 15c to be effective. Unlikely even in mild weather to be this temperature in autumn, so have to start much earlier ie Aug or use a different treatment
3. As still getting good drops after the treatment has finished, I’d treat with oxalic acid after a sustained cold spell (when you think there isn’t any brood in the colony) to kill remaining phonetic mites. This could be anytime between end Nov - end Dec. Sublimation method best rather than trickling, as doesn’t harm brood if there is small patches and less stressful to bees as can sublimate underneath the open mesh floor.
4. Go onto Beebase there’s some good publications you can download about varroa management / methods

http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/downloadDocument.cfm?id=1389Best wishes
Elaine

 

[The Poot]

Good answer, Elaine methinks.
(Love the phonetic mites bit )

 

[Ian123]

Your options now are to stick in apivar or apistan or a couple of vapes if you have the equipment. There’s a good chance your partial treatment may have done enough for winter survival and would recommend at the very least a winter treatment/bleaching. I’m going to look in some hives later and see how much brood rearing is going on later today.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Hi there
1. Not supposed to feed at same time as treat. The bees prefer the feed so can ignore the Apiguard

Not so
This needs to be corrected
This is from Vita

8. Q: Can I feed my colonies whilst using Apiguard?
A: Yes. Trials suggest that feeding with a protein patty during Apiguard treatment encourages the bees up to the gel and increases their cleaning activities, improving the treatment efficacy.
Using a liquid feed, there may still be some benefit because the colony becomes more active and that probably encourages the increased spread of Apiguard throughout the hive.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

One of the reasons for advising care in feeding during apiguard is, if feeding in bulk andthey're taking it down quickly, they may take advantage of the extra space afforded by the eke and build brace comb, seldom affects the efficacy of the treatment.
And average daytime temperatures in September are also fine for treating - the reason for the 15 degrees advice is that bees need to be active and leaving the hive regularly to ensure a good spread of of the paste. Night time temperatures are irrelevant as the bees are indoors and the hive temperature is always constant.
Obviously it all depends on what part of the country you are but I've seldom seen Apiguard going on in Southern Wales until mid September

 

[elainemary]

Not so
This needs to be corrected
This is from Vita

8. Q: Can I feed my colonies whilst using Apiguard?
A: Yes. Trials suggest that feeding with a protein patty during Apiguard treatment encourages the bees up to the gel and increases their cleaning activities, improving the treatment efficacy.
Using a liquid feed, there may still be some benefit because the colony becomes more active and that probably encourages the increased spread of Apiguard throughout the hive.

Thanks, interesting to know that

 

[Tigger]

Thank you everybody for replying.
As a result I will change my approach next year.

But for now I think I'll put on Apivar. Are there any reasons for not doing this?
Thanks.

 

[Ian123]

Checked some of mine today brood in all but a few and a couple that had obviously had a break had eggs. So whilst you will need to consider your location you may still get a round of 2 of brood rearing in before they shut up for winter. So if you can get a treatment in you won’t cause any harm doing so

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thank you everybody for replying.
As a result I will change my approach next year.

But for now I think I'll put on Apivar. Are there any reasons for not doing this?
Thanks.

Yes. That’s what I would do