Feeding/Varroa treatment.

[reigate]

Have put a feeder on the hive after extracting 2 supers. Does feeding syrup have to be completed by the end of September? if so, will I have time to use Apiguard treatment?

 

[Ian123]

Dates on a calendar are irrelevant bees respond to conditions you can feed syrup into December if temps allow or needed. If you are using apiguard then sooner rather than later is better due to its requirements for higher temperatures.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Your winter bees are made in September/October
It’s important to tackle varroa before
Give them enough feed to last while you are treating. It will only delay Apiguard by a few days then treat.
Unless, of course, they have enough stores in the brood, in which case just get on with the Thymol

 

[reigate]

If i feed syrup for a week and then start Apiguard will this be suitable.

 

[Erichalfbee]

If i feed syrup for a week and then start Apiguard will this be suitable.

Yes.
Just get a few litres into them

 

[reigate]

Thanks for advice.

 

[madasafish]

I switched from Apiguard to MAQs as the treatment period is shorter 1 vs 4 weeks. Makes feeding easier..

Followed instructions, used half dosage for nucs..No QCs or dead Qs

 

[masterBK]

I used Apivar this year and hope its efficacy justifies its high cost

I note from the Apivar site (under frequently asked questions)

Is it recommended to treat at the same time as feeding?
There is no contraindication to feed and treat at the same time. Apivar does not effect feeding. On the contrary, it can be easily thought that the two activities are synergistic to fight against Varroa mite:
- Feeding increases activity in the colony and probably the contact of bees with the Apivar strips. So it can be considered as a good way to increase the speed of decontamination.
- Feeding has the same goal as Apivar treatment, to reinforce the colony for the winter season. As a consequence feeding and treating at the same time can be regarded as good preparation for the wintering period.

In the apiary: Do not hesitate to treat with Apivar and feed honey bees at the same to time to prepare for the winter

 

[Ian123]

Yes but the op is using apiguard

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

And we wonder why beginners struggle when they are fed information on a totally different treatment to the one they're using

 

[masterBK]

I was merely pointing out there is a treatment available that you can use which allows you to feed at the same time as treat. Because the effectiveness of apiguard (and all thymol based products) depends on temperature I don't think I could recommend it to others as on some occasions I have used apiguard in the past the % knock down rate of the Varroa was alot less than on other occasions (I check using sugar roll test). The op hasn't actually started using apiguard yet so has time to reconsider what to use. I thought I was providing helpful info but obviously others think differently.

 

[Curly green finger's]

And we wonder why beginners struggle when they are fed information on a totally different treatment to the one they're using

That maybe true but very useful info all the same @ master BK.

 

[Swarm]

The time is fast running out (already has?) for temp dependent treatments to be fully effective.
Off the top of my head, isn't the minimum 15 degrees for apiguard? 2 x 10 day treatments?
Treating with apiguard should really be coming to an end, if not finished by now to get the best result.
Apiguard and OA trickle and then MAQS and OA trickle has been promoted by my association for ages but many of our beekeepers are treating their colonies in late September, hoping to get the most from the Balsam.

 

[madasafish]

I treated everything - hives - and nucs - for the the first time ever two weeks ago.

Most impressed with the ease of use and the results.. (for all intents, the harvest is over here). No apparent problems with Qs or QCs or bearding (apart from one colony day 1 only bearding)..

Much easier than thymol based ones..(although brood breaks this year appear to have kept varroa levels low.)

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The time is fast running out (already has?) for temp dependent treatments to be fully effective.
Off the top of my head, isn't the minimum 15 degrees for apiguard? 2 x 10 day treatments?

I suppose a lot depends on your bees - the temperature doesn't have a direct influence on the Apiguard as, being inside the hive, the temperature is pretty constant. The important thing is outside temperatures - you need the bees to be active, flying in and out of the hive to ensure good movement of bees within, so, I suppose you could say that if your bees are hammering the ivy, the treatment should work

 

[Cuckmere couple]

I switched from Apiguard to MAQs as the treatment period is shorter 1 vs 4 weeks. Makes feeding easier..

Followed instructions, used half dosage for nucs..No QCs or dead Qs

when did you do this?

i have MAQs but was going to keep until spring and use apiguard now

 

[Swarm]

I used Apivar this year and hope its efficacy justifies its high cost

I note from the Apivar site (under frequently asked questions)

Is it recommended to treat at the same time as feeding?
There is no contraindication to feed and treat at the same time. Apivar does not effect feeding. On the contrary, it can be easily thought that the two activities are synergistic to fight against Varroa mite:
- Feeding increases activity in the colony and probably the contact of bees with the Apivar strips. So it can be considered as a good way to increase the speed of decontamination.
- Feeding has the same goal as Apivar treatment, to reinforce the colony for the winter season. As a consequence feeding and treating at the same time can be regarded as good preparation for the wintering period.

In the apiary: Do not hesitate to treat with Apivar and feed honey bees at the same to time to prepare for the winter

Six quid per hive? Not much difference really, it's £27 per five hive treatment with apiguard.

 

[reigate]

Have just had a quick inspection before placing Apiguard on the hive. I am concerned that the colony is low on stores. As i cannot feed syrup with Apiguard on the colony is there any way of feeding. Any advice please.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Have just had a quick inspection before placing Apiguard on the hive. I am concerned that the colony is low on stores. As i cannot feed syrup with Apiguard on the colony is there any way of feeding. Any advice please.

What you might have done and I certainly would have is to feed enough for the bees to live on while you’re treating first. It would have taken only a few days
If you feed anything while treating the bees spend more time on the food and less moving the thymol around making treatment less effective. If you have brood frames of stores to put in then that’s the best way with Apiguard on.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Have just had a quick inspection before placing Apiguard on the hive. I am concerned that the colony is low on stores. As i cannot feed syrup with Apiguard on the colony is there any way of feeding. Any advice please.

It doesn't say you cannot feed, just that you should try and avoid it.
As you are feeding the bees (rather than giving them syrup to store) I doubt it would have much effect on the movement of bees around the hive or efficacy of the Apiguard.
Apiguard doesn't work very well on dead bees either