Packing up for winter

[Queens59]

Byvarol is the main one they are now resistent to Kaz - although bits of Ireland are still using it quite successfully apparently...

 

[Arfermo]

I was going to do a Sugar Roll (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Beekeeping/Varroa_Mite) and if they have no mites then not do the mite-control. Is that plain wrong?

Don't EVER kid yourself that your bees do not have varroa just because you cannot see any. Far too many beeks make that assumption only to find out later that they have lost their bees or, at the very least, left them vulnerable to a host of other problems that varroa induce by sapping their resistance after living off the bees circulatory system. Just wake up please and put your hand in your pocket soonest as it getting past the time when thymol treatment will be fully effective ie when the ambient temperature drops below 15C!!! Whilst you are at it, also buy in some ready mixed oxalic acid solution and an applicator syringe ready to treat by trickling about Xmas time. Make no mistake, both treatments are important if you value your bees.

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

Whilst you are at it, also buy in some ready mixed oxalic acid solution and an applicator syringe ready to treat by trickling about Xmas time. Make no mistake, both treatments are important if you value your bees.

I was led to believe that Oxalic lost its efficacy after a couple of weeks, is that not true?

 

[Arfermo]

I was led to believe that Oxalic lost its efficacy after a couple of weeks, is that not true?

Ready mixed oxalic supplied in plastic containers by, say, Wynne Jones, comes in 500ml containers with an applicator syringe and the bottles say that once opened it cannot be stored for use the following year. For that reason, it makes economic sense to share a bottle with fellow beeks as, using a mere 5mml per seam of bees, means that a single bottle provides treatment for 100 seams ie more that 10 brood boxes worth - far more than most hobby beekers have. Oxalic trickling is usual around Xmas but can also be used to huge advantage (for the bees of course) when capturing a new swarm or doing other swarm techniques when very little or NIL brood is present.

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

Ready mixed oxalic supplied in plastic containers by, say, Wynne Jones, comes in 500ml containers with an applicator syringe and the bottles say that once opened it cannot be stored for use the following year. For that reason, it makes economic sense to share a bottle with fellow beeks as, using a mere 5mml per seam of bees, means that a single bottle provides treatment for 100 seams ie more that 10 brood boxes worth - far more than most hobby beekers have. Oxalic trickling is usual around Xmas but can also be used to huge advantage (for the bees of course) when capturing a new swarm or doing other swarm techniques when very little or NIL brood is present.

Thanks Afermo. Checking on the Thornes website I must have been thinking about the trickle ready-mix which has a very short shelf life

 

[Hombre]

Oxalic acid has a very short shelf life, as explained by the BBKA leaflet which points out that the HMF level in the sugar solution increases and with time. Light and temperature also increase the rate of change and as you will be aware, HMF is toxic to bees.

 

[Black Comb]

Oxalic acid has a very short shelf life, as explained by the BBKA leaflet which points out that the HMF level in the sugar solution increases and with time. Light and temperature also increase the rate of change and as you will be aware, HMF is toxic to bees.

I assume you mean once mixed?