Maqs

[banwee40]

I have heard some horror stories about MAQS do any of you use these or had bad experiences with them, or have you found them okay.

Kind Regards

Harry

 

[ianorsven]

I have used them in the past successfully, in that the mite drop was high and there was no loss of queens. The was however, an associated pause in queen's laying for a week or so.

This summer I treated a hive with MAQS and after around 3-4 days found the queen in a bad way wandering around in front of the hive. The colony raised a new queen who now heads the colony so not a disaster.

There are issues with MAQS but it's a case of "yer pays yer money and takes yer choice" I'm afraid. My best advice is to read up on all recommended/approved treatments and make an informed decision.

Good luck with your beekeeping.

 

[Finman]

.
IT is formic acid. IT has been used widely 15 years...

British beekeepers do not often mind, what dosages they should use for certain size colony.

When out temp goes over 25C, Queen losses may appear.

Read more from Canadian mite treatment. They use much formic acid.

 

[enrico]

I have used maqs many times with no problems although I have now gone over to a vapouriser for speed and ease. The only thing I would suggest is not to do maqs later than August just in case you lose a queen. I only use one strip on a brood box and two on double brood.
E

 

[Erichalfbee]

Tried it when it first came out. Lost two queens.
OAV now

 

[beeno]

I have used maqs many times with no problems although I have now gone over to a vapouriser for speed and ease. The only thing I would suggest is not to do maqs later than August just in case you lose a queen.
E

I now use MAQS for the convenience, but not with supers on. I have lost three queens. One I put down to poor ventilation in hot weather. The other two were two year old queens and the consensus is (tin hat on) that it is a common occurrence. I plan to use MAQS again this year, but not at present temperatures. Toying with the idea of making up holding nucs for some queens.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I now use MAQS for the convenience, but not with supers on. I have lost three queens......Toying with the idea of making up holding nucs for some queens.

You’re more patient than me.
Might as well use Apitraz after supers come off.
I have enough for three hives as I bought some in desperation for one colony last year.
I’ll use them up on colonies I’m going to be uniting.

 

[linoleum bonypart]

I bought short date amitraz to use on swarms and nucs this summer...

 

[Noddy]

I used it once and lost two queens, even though I only used one strip per National brood box. I won't be using it again - I OA vape now.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

Used it once, never again, use Amitraz now, two strips in hives, one in nuc box's.

 

[banwee40]

Hi did you leave the varroa tray in while treating it doesn't say, I take its the same as other treatments and leave it in.

 

[banwee40]

Hi I am assuming that the varroa tray stays in

 

[banwee40]

I have used them in the past successfully, in that the mite drop was high and there was no loss of queens. The was however, an associated pause in queen's laying for a week or so.

This summer I treated a hive with MAQS and after around 3-4 days found the queen in a bad way wandering around in front of the hive. The colony raised a new queen who now heads the colony so not a disaster.

There are issues with MAQS but it's a case of "yer pays yer money and takes yer choice" I'm afraid. My best advice is to read up on all recommended/approved treatments and make an informed decision.

Good luck with your beekeeping.

cheers

 

[banwee40]

.
IT is formic acid. IT has been used widely 15 years...

British beekeepers do not often mind, what dosages they should use for certain size colony.

When out temp goes over 25C, Queen losses may appear.

Read more from Canadian mite treatment. They use much formic acid.

Thanks for the reply

 

[banwee40]

I have used maqs many times with no problems although I have now gone over to a vapouriser for speed and ease. The only thing I would suggest is not to do maqs later than August just in case you lose a queen. I only use one strip on a brood box and two on double brood.
E

thanks for the reply

 

[beeno]

According to instructions yes. But some beeks leave it half in and scientific beekeeping has tried with it out and result slightly reduced efficacy but still at 90%.
Sorry, varroa tray that is.

 

[oliver90owner]

Finny is spot on. So many instructions are followed to the letter, without consideration of any local prevailing conditions. Down to nanny state and non-thinking beekeepers, I suspect. 10 aspirins, to counteract a headache, is not advised when the normal advised dose is two. Same with formic acid where the temperature is a variable to contend with. Same, also, with thymol for that matter.

Still better than chemicals which are residual , or lead to resistance.

 

[Eyeman]

I lost 3 queeen a couple of years ago when I used MAQS- good ventilation, OMF open, double national outside temp not too high. It's something I use as part of IPM rotation.
When I use it again, probably next year, I'm going to put the queen in a mini nuc with 300 of her daughters, some fondant and relocate her for a week. I'll then knock down the emergency QC's and reintroduce her.
When I've used MAQS is the past I've always seen a brood break so nothing lost by taking the queen out for a week.

 

[beeno]

Not had brood breaks other than from the ones that were dead of course.

 

[linoleum bonypart]

I lost 3 queeen a couple of years ago when I used MAQS- good ventilation, OMF open, double national outside temp not too high. It's something I use as part of IPM rotation.
When I use it again, probably next year, I'm going to put the queen in a mini nuc with 300 of her daughters, some fondant and relocate her for a week. I'll then knock down the emergency QC's and reintroduce her.
When I've used MAQS is the past I've always seen a brood break so nothing lost by taking the queen out for a week.

What a palaver lol....