Duration of Oxalic Acid on Bees

[Eyeman]

Sorry if already posted. Experiment by Randy Oliver on dead bees exposed to different delivery methods & additives to Oxalic acid. He measured the ‘acidity levels’. Adding sugar caused the acidity to rapidly decline- think Api Bioxal. Vaporisation persisted the longest 90% at 4 days.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

if they're dead, it means very little

 

[Erichalfbee]

Vaporisation persisted the longest 90% at 4 days.

Which is why we vape every 5 days

 

[enrico]

So, excuse my ignorance, but is it better for the acidity to last longer or not?

 

[jarmo henttu]

Researches made from dribbling mixture of oxalic acid has been made over 20 years ago. Since then method has been used.

Dribbling works when the colony does not have capped brood.

What is Randy Oliver now researching?

Problem in California, where Randy Oliver lives, is that the day temp on area may be 25C September. Randy has not got good results from trickling.

As you know gasification of oxalic acid has given good results. This method and its variations has become now popular in Finland too.

 

[Murox]

So, excuse my ignorance, but is it better for the acidity to last longer or not?

Well the popular theory is that it enters the mite through its feet and then moves into the bloodstream and disrupts its metabolism, seems to be a 'physical' thing so I reckon the longer the acidity lasts, the longer it blasts the mite population. So a good thing....probably.

 

[Eyeman]

Which is why we vape every 5 days

Alas as we are all using the only licenced OA treatment flavoured with sugar shorter intervals may be required.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Alas as we are all using the only licenced OA treatment flavoured with sugar shorter intervals may be required.

So do I

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Alas as we are all using the only licenced OA treatment flavoured with sugar shorter intervals may be required.

if you are following the guidelines on 'licenced' OA, then you should only be using it once - if you multiple vape with it, you are still in breach of the regulations so you may as well save some money and use the good stuff

 

[Amari]

Alas as we are all using the only licenced OA treatment flavoured with sugar shorter intervals may be required.

Keeping meticulous treatment records for five years is also becoming tedious and has almost filled my filing cabinet....

 

[Jules59]

I was wondering if the VMD regs prohibited winter vaping if OA is used earlier in the year (eg for a shook swarm)

I've checked - Apibioxal says up to 2 treatment per year (winter & spring/summer)

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

(eg for a shook swarm)

what kind of lunatic would 'shook swarm' at any time?

 

[Jules59]

I was wondering if the VMD regs prohibited winter vaping if OA is used earlier in the year (eg for a shook swarm)

I've checked - Apibioxal says up to 2 treatment per year (winter & spring/summer)

Further to this:
According to my pdf, trickling can be done twice a year but vaping only once.

What's the logic in that ?

 

[Jules59]

what kind of lunatic would 'shook swarm' at any time?

My local SBI for a start - though I dont think he's a loony. But let's not digress.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Further to this:
According to my pdf, trickling can be done twice a year but vaping only once.

What's the logic in that ?

there isn't if anything it should be the other way around

My local SBI for a start - though I dont think he's a loony.

the statement that he likes shook swarming would indicate otherwise, or at least that he sits in the 'hard of thinking' camp..

 

[JamezF]

Further to this:
According to my pdf, trickling can be done twice a year but vaping only once.

What's the logic in that ?

Last time I looked it was also unclear whether both forms of treatment could be used or if they were mutually exclusive.

James

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Keeping meticulous treatment records for five years is also becoming tedious and has almost filled my filing cabinet....

It's a bugger when mice get into the filing cabinet and chew up the paper to make nests

 

[Erichalfbee]

what kind of lunatic would 'shook swarm' at any time?

I suppose there has to be something they have to suggest when we are not allowed to use Oxalic the way the rest of the world does.
Did they put Ratnieks in jail for doing exhaustive studies vaping twice in winter? Or did he get a suspended sentence because the prisons are full of keyboard warriors.

 

[Jules59]

Last time I looked it was also unclear whether both forms of treatment could be used or if they were mutually exclusive.

James

Indeed - its as clear as mud

 

[mbc]

what kind of lunatic would 'shook swarm' at any time?

Really good technique to fill odd sized frames or move bees from frame formats no longer wanted, I've done it several times, never enjoyed doing it and have felt a bit of a lunatic but c'mon, its a viable manipulation in some circumstances.