Harvest after MAQS treatment

[apb1981]

Hi all

Another newbee question. I treated hive with MAQS strips then left for 7 days after end of treatment for vapours to dissolve. Supers with frames were on to allow optimum room for inhabitants. My question is - am i safe to harvest the contents of the frames that were on during treatment AFTER the 7 day waiting period following treatment, ie will any vapours have dissolved by then or should i wait longer?

Thanks all

 

[Erichalfbee]

Safe
Concentration of formic acid never gets above what normally occurs in honey anyway

 

[enrico]

And there is a clear answer.

 

[JonnyPicklechin]

If you freeze MAQS strips will they last at least a year d'ya think?

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

 

[beeno]

Safe
Concentration of formic acid never gets above what normally occurs in honey anyway

Some studies state that it doubles the amount of formic acid in the honey compared to untreated colonies and if treatment is carried out in spring it remains in the hive for the next season as well. Whether that is bad for you or affects the taste of the honey, who knows? Personally, I never treat with supers on.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Personally, I never treat with supers on.

I wouldn’t be trying that with MAQS though a couple of empty drawn ones would do

 

[Poly Hive]

A basic rule of thumb is do not treat with supers with HONEY or NECTAR in. If space is an issue then clear into supers with empty frames.

Common sense surely?

PH

 

[enrico]

Common sense is to read the instructions which clearly state you can leave supers on!
E

 

[beeno]

Common sense is to read the instructions which clearly state you can leave supers on!
E

I guess that is a major selling point presumed safe.

 

[bingevader]

If they need treating, they need treating.
I'd rather leave the honey than lose a colony.
I've successfully treated with MAQS in the spring, but didn't take any honey.
So, sorry, that's not very helpful.
But, we did chose MAQS on the basis that it claims to still be safe to remove the honey.

 

[beeno]

If they need treating, they need treating.
I'd rather leave the honey than lose a colony.
I've successfully treated with MAQS in the spring, but didn't take any honey.
So, sorry, that's not very helpful.
But, we did chose MAQS on the basis that it claims to still be safe to remove the honey.

Many manufacturing claims are years later proven wrong, so I do prefer to be risk averse. Any liability would be the manufacturers though as you followed what it said on the tin.

 

[Erichalfbee]

An idle thought; I wonder how many lose queens applying MAQS according to manufacturer’s instructions ?

 

[enrico]

An idle thought; I wonder how many lose queens applying MAQS according to manufacturer’s instructions ?

Never
E

 

[Swarm]

An idle thought; I wonder how many lose queens applying MAQS according to manufacturer’s instructions ?

Maybe the single pad as opposed to the original two per box dose has made a difference?
Me and Craig never had queen issues but we only used one per box from the time they were available, I didn't think they did a good enough job or probably the treatment was too early, allowing mite numbers to rise.
My friend still uses a regime of MAQS plus Winter OA drizzle, it works for him.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Maybe the single pad as opposed to the original two per box dose has made a difference?
Me and Craig never had queen issues but we only used one per box from the time they were available, I didn't think they did a good enough job or probably the treatment was too early, allowing mite numbers to rise.
My friend still uses a regime of MAQS plus Winter OA drizzle, it works for him.

Yes probably
I tried MAQS as soon as it became available
2 strips though and lost queens
Never tried it again

 

[Beefriendly]

I think IIRC the original recommendations for number of strips/pads was based on Langstroth sized hives and hence the the possible reason for the problems some have had in the smaller Nationals. Not a method of varroa control I have tried or ever intend to try.
The horror stories from some people using them tell you there can be problems in some circumstances.

 

[Ian123]

Think theres plenty who use langs who also had some issues. Certainly high temps during the treatment period are known to cause problems

 

[Beefriendly]

Which would make the concentrations used much worse in the smaller National hives in warmer weather.