check this apiguard picture

[Cuckmere couple]

this is one hive...two treatments, after 4 weeks

does it mean they havent taken it and it hasnt worked?

 

[Cuckmere couple]

also

i had one apiguard sachet left so gave 50/50 to two hives with the highest mite drop...should i now just leave that 1 week (half the dose, half the time?) or longer

am really keen to get feeding so would prefer a week

 

[bingevader]

does it mean they haven't taken it and it hasn't worked?

Yes.
I've had this previously.
It was a lot cooler that year though.

 

[Quis Custodiet]

Why is there a queen excluder?

 

[boywonder]

Yes.
I've had this previously.
It was a lot cooler that year though.

With the very greatest respect, I think that is complete b*llocks, and this is the first time I have come on to the forum in the c.a. 4 years I have been on it to directly contradict a forum member.

We know nothing of the colony strength, the local climate etc... but, although not all Apiguard gel has been 'cleaned' by the bees, a very good proprtion of it has, and it will have been spread around the colony and there should have been material mite loss. What is at issue is efficacy.

Is the OP monitoring mite drop, and if so, what are the results ?? If the aim is to crack-on with feeding, then, depending on the feeder type, I would leave the Apiguard in the hive, to maximise efficacy.

The manufacturer's line is:

Q: After 2 weeks there is still some Apiguard left in the tray/on the dosing card. What is happening and what should I do? A: Sometimes as the gel dries, the bees lose interest in it. Empty and spread the remainder onto a flat surface (wax foundation, cardboard about 10 cm x 10 cm). If there is only a small amount of gel remaining, smear it on the top of the brood frames. This is active Apiguard and will be removed by the bees, which will further help in the control of mites.

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[boywonder]

Why is there a queen excluder?

x2 That should not be there.

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[Cuckmere couple]

sorry...i removed the two apiguard trays and places them on a table on top of a QE for the photo...they weren't on a QE in the hive

its a ok/strong colony - currently on 9-10 frames

mite drop has been steady

its just our other two colonies have cleared the trays of crystals

 

[boywonder]

I (personally) would not get too stressed about it, and would certainly not constitue it a "failure" ... I think that is what is what I was trying to say.

I have never had a colony absolutely 100% clean a tray of gel - although I may be the exception. Touch-wood (apart from one huge cock-up in my first season - which was not varroa treatment related), I have not had any winter losses (yet), and I am not one of the majority who vapes with Oxalic during the winter, either.

Not being familar with the colony, it is hard to judge, but if they were my bees, and I had seen that modest level of Apiguard uptake, I would not be overly stressed.

Hope my own personal thioughts help. Cheers.

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