Best stuff to treat a swarm with?

[SireeDubs]

My swarm seems to be settled into their new home and starting to build out nicely. As they're not from my apiary, I want to treat for varroa.

What's people's experience of the best treatment at this stage? Oxalic? I have some apistan, which a friend has passed to me (I've never used this, as I go for apilife var). Will the apistan be ok to use, or would people recommend oxalic?

Thanks.

 

[Tom Bick]

I would say why feel the need to treat.

Check the bees so as to assess what load they have before considering treatment.

 

[SireeDubs]

Thanks for quick answer. I should've added that I've had a tray in to monitor. Counted a drop of around 20 in 24 hours (and those were the ones I could see, and my eyesight isn't great).

On that basis I think I should treat.

 

[Arfermo]

A dose of sublimated oxalic whilst they are broodless will remove most of the phoretic mites carried in on the bodies of the bees. With drop you found I would not hesitate.

 

[pargyle]

Thanks for quick answer. I should've added that I've had a tray in to monitor. Counted a drop of around 20 in 24 hours (and those were the ones I could see, and my eyesight isn't great).

On that basis I think I should treat.

I would still hold off and check the drop for a week and average out ... I see regular, infrequent, spikes in mite drop and I've seen 20 in a day and then nothing for the next few days. The OA sublimation route would seem to be the least invasive and most successful treatment currently available ..

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Why use pyrethroids unless you really need to - oxalic either sublimation or trickle

 

[itma]

No harm (and some good) should come from dusting them with icing sugar.

It pretty useless once they have sealed brood, but while they have absolutely zero sealed brood, icing sugar can certainly have some effect. Oxalic acid would have a greater effect, but icing sugar is more easily available and not problematic for the beginner.

Don't be too concerned about the varroa drop you are seeing - it isn't representative in the same way as the drop from a normal population in an established colony.

 

[Finman]

Thanks for quick answer. I should've added that I've had a tray in to monitor. Counted a drop of around 20 in 24 hours (and those were the ones I could see, and my eyesight isn't great).

On that basis I think I should treat.

Yes, it is big. No idea to wait that it becomes bigger. Oxalic tickling is simple. Good opportunity to get rid off them.

Formic acid and thymol.could be dangerous to queen when you have hot weather.

 

[Finman]

No harm (and some good) should come from dusting them with icing sugar.


Don't be too concerned about the varroa drop you are seeing - it isn't representative in the same way as the drop from a normal population in an established colony.

It need not to be representative. It is enough big when you see them on the body of bees.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

My swarm seems to be settled into their new home and starting to build out nicely. As they're not from my apiary, I want to treat for varroa.

What's people's experience of the best treatment at this stage? Oxalic? I have some apistan, which a friend has passed to me (I've never used this, as I go for apilife var). Will the apistan be ok to use, or would people recommend oxalic?

Thanks.

As the Merikans say "do the math".

You have a swarm of unknown provenance
You have seen varroa
There is no sealed brood so nowhere for mites to hide
Apistan may or may not be effective in your area
Oxalic trickle will be relatively easy to apply
If you have OA vaporizer etc thats also easy enough to do.

I wouldn't even bother to ask, just treat before the window of opportunity closes.

 

[SireeDubs]

Thanks all. Much appreciated. Will do the oxalic trickle treatment tomorrow. That's 3 days from arrival, so should be fine, I hope.

 

[itma]

Thanks all. Much appreciated. Will do the oxalic trickle treatment tomorrow. That's 3 days from arrival, so should be fine, I hope.

Do you have freshly made Oxalic syrup? (It doesn't store for long - don't use it if it is yellowed - should look just like plain fresh syrup.)

 

[SireeDubs]

Thanks Itma. Buying fresh in, as none left in my stores!

Didn't know that though, so useful for future.

 

[Arfermo]

As the Merikans say "do the math".

You have a swarm of unknown provenance
You have seen varroa
There is no sealed brood so nowhere for mites to hide
Apistan may or may not be effective in your area
Oxalic trickle will be relatively easy to apply
If you have OA vaporizer etc thats also easy enough to do.

I wouldn't even bother to ask, just treat before the window of opportunity closes.

absolutely. A no brainer imho.