Low varroa drop: to vape or not to vape

[rdmw]

My understanding of varroa lifecycle is that the reproduction occurs in the sealed brood and that sublimated oxalic acid does not penetrate sealed brood and does not kill the young varroa. Treating when there is brood will knock down mites on adult bees but the large reservoir of immature mites in the brood will be unaffected. Hence my understanding that the treatment is most effective on broodless colonies whether in the middle of winter, in a newly taken swarm or after an artificial swarm.



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[Erichalfbee]

My understanding of varroa lifecycle is that the reproduction occurs in the sealed brood and that sublimated oxalic acid does not penetrate sealed brood and does not kill the young varroa.

It is the crystalline structure of the sublimated and re-solidified acid that physically harms the mites so you are right that it has no effect under cappings.
However. The crystals remain in the hive for long enough to have a residual action for up to a week, hence the suggested re-application at five day intervals.
BUT even if that were not the case you have to remember that emerging varroa have a phoretic phase of five days-ish and do not just jump into the next cell being sealed but wander about feeding on adult bees

 

[Eyeman]

However. The crystals remain in the hive for long enough to have a residual action for up to a week, hence the suggested re-application at five day intervals.
BUT even if that were not the case you have to remember that emerging varroa have a phoretic phase of five days-ish and do not just jump into the next cell being sealed but wander about feeding on adult bees

How long do the OA crystals remain on the bees- ? Hours.
Surely the mites are going to get exposed to the OA crystals when on the bees. I doubt if the mites spend much time wandering around the hive?
Perhaps one way that mites can have prolonged exposure to the OA crystals is when the bees remove the OA crystals. Rate of OA crystal removal is likely be influenced by whether bees are clustered.

 

[Erichalfbee]

*****

 

[REDWOOD]

I agree [emoji4]


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[Erichalfbee]

Happy New Year Paul

 

[manek]

Well, they were finally vaped today (even though it was warm enough for some to be flying). My first attempt went ok, I think. I plan to do another vape in five days.

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[Erichalfbee]

Make sure you are monitoring the drop.... ...I'm sure you are

 

[manek]

Make sure you are monitoring the drop.... ...I'm sure you are

Yes, I am

Though it'll be interesting to interpret the drop in a few days when I visit again. If it's a large drop (compared to the 3-5 a week I've been experiencing so far), does that mean I've got them all, or nearly all? Or if it's a low drop, does that mean there weren't many to start with?

 

[madasafish]

Yes, I am

Though it'll be interesting to interpret the drop in a few days when I visit again. If it's a large drop (compared to the 3-5 a week I've been experiencing so far), does that mean I've got them all, or nearly all? Or if it's a low drop, does that mean there weren't many to start with?

A low drop might mean you vaped incorrectly

 

[Erichalfbee]

It could mean there were few but at this time of year I would expect the queen is getting going and you will have brood.

 

[rdmw]

Check out http://m.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/33537 recent research suggests sublimation superior to trickling


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[manek]

Check out http://m.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/33537 recent research suggests sublimation superior to trickling

Yes, I went to a workshop there where they showed what and how they researched those numbers. I was convinced - some solid science there.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Check out http://m.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/33537 recent research suggests sublimation superior to trickling

Yes, I went to a workshop there where they showed what and how they researched those numbers. I was convinced - some solid science there.

Did they use Apibioxal?

 

[manek]

Did they use Apibioxal?

Yes, I believe so.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Did they use Apibioxal?

The Sussex uni research used........

We used dihydrate OA, purity 99.6% (Sigma-Aldrich obtained from Riedel-de Haën, Enologia Apicoltura).

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00218839.2015.1106777

 

[Erichalfbee]

The Sussex uni research used........



http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00218839.2015.1106777

I knew that.....it was a leading question
They are obviously exempt from the regulations that us mere mortals have to adhere to

 

[Hivemaker.]

I knew that.....it was a leading question
They are obviously exempt from the regulations that us mere mortals have to adhere to

And therefore the research is of little use to us mere mortals as we are not allowed to use just oxalic acid 99.6%, only apibioxal which has been adulterated with glucose among other things.

 

[manek]

A low drop might mean you vaped incorrectly

Wow. A check today found a drop of 80 - so I'd tend to conclude that I've done the vaping right. Another vape due on Friday, methinks...

 

[charlievictorbravo]

Wow. A check today found a drop of 80 - so I'd tend to conclude that I've done the vaping right. Another vape due on Friday, methinks...

If my sums are right, that's the drop over 2 days so not a terrible infestation but worth treating nonetheless. I think you'll be down to single figure daily drops after the third treatment.

CVB