Supers and varroa treatment

[Mick Plimley]

You can treat and leave supers on, as long as any stores aren't for resale or human consumption unless it is of course for your own personal use only.

Do I have too replace frames and foundation as Iv read different things so I went ahead and treated with apistan with out taking any of my supers off

 

[user 819]

Apistan is out dated as a varroa treatment , mite resistance was one of the major factors against it as was chemical residue build up in wax.
If you have left the supers on then any honey can't be sold to the public or given an gifts .

 

[user 819]

One doesn't have to replace frames or foundation but it might be prudent to do and switch to a better varroa treatment that doesn't taint as bad.

Typically if wanting to treat with supers on then ones has to think of O/A type using sublimination, remove supers and set aside. Administer the sublimination treatment then replace supers on top.

 

[ericbeaumont]

remove supers and set aside.

Remove supers, lay on the QX a sheet of broadsheet newspaper, put back supers & roof, gas the bees and walk away.

 

[Mick Plimley]

One doesn't have to replace frames or foundation but it might be prudent to do and switch to a better varroa treatment that doesn't taint as bad.

Typically if wanting to treat with supers on then ones has to think of O/A type using sublimination, remove supers and set aside. Administer the sublimination treatment then replace supers on top.

Thank you gladly 4 info hemo

 

[Mick Plimley]

You can treat and leave supers on, as long as any stores aren't for resale or human consumption unless it is of course for your own personal use only.

Hemo what's the best way too treat for mite so many different products too much wrong info as iv come across

 

[Mick Plimley]

Thank you gladly 4 info hemo

So the tainted honey supers are good for winter feed for each hive ?

 

[Wilco]

So the tainted honey supers are good for winter feed for each hive ?

Yes.

With any authorised treatment there isa data sheet. This is what states whether you can use the treatment with honey supers on. It's best to assume you can't rather than can.

Rules in other countries vary, such as with oxalic acid.

Most people would not be treating at this time of year unless they had a real issue with varroa. Typically August/September are a good time.

 

[user 819]

Vaping O/A is used a lot , not tainting of wax or honey . Though any supers being used for honey sales need separating form the treatment , either temporary removal during treatment or as Eric mentioned place a sheet of newspaper between brood and suppers.

 

[Superlativesoul]

Vaping O/A is used a lot , not tainting of wax or honey . Though any supers being used for honey sales need separating form the treatment , either temporary removal during treatment or as Eric mentioned place a sheet of newspaper between brood and suppers.

What are your thoughts on herbal Varroa treatment ?I've read that Mint and Thyme essential oils placed on absorbent strips in between the frames for min of 3 days,max 1 week , have a high efficiency of removing the mite .I'm thinking ahead for the Autumn and these would be my first treatments on my colony which were a swarm capture .
John

 

[drex]

Most treatments are more effective when broodless, hence better to treat a swarm on capturing. If you have little experience I would suggest you stick with tried and tested main stream methods. Autumn treatment is most important to have healthy bees through winter . I would nor mess about with that. You can experiment later

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

What are your thoughts on herbal Varroa treatment ?I've read that Mint and Thyme essential oils placed on absorbent strips in between the frames for min of 3 days,max 1 week , have a high efficiency of removing the mite .I'm thinking ahead for the Autumn and these would be my first treatments on my colony which were a swarm capture .

forget it and treat properly with Oxalic acid or an approved/proven thymol based treatment.
A treatment of anything, especially some herb based snakeoil over just seven days will have little or no impact. You might as well just sprinkle some paxo over the colony

 

[user 819]

What are your thoughts on herbal Varroa treatment ?I've read that Mint and Thyme essential oils placed on absorbent strips in between the frames for min of 3 days,max 1 week , have a high efficiency of removing the mite .I'm thinking ahead for the Autumn and these would be my first treatments on my colony which were a swarm capture .
John

Ever thought of Rhubarb leaves .

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

 

[Sutty]

Be kind folks, this is the beginners section.
I would echo the others though - stick to tried treatments for now. Oxalic sublimation is good, loads of info on here. Gas-vap is a fairly cheap introduction. Make sure you have appropriate PPE.

 

[user 819]

The older apistan amd bayvarol are pytheroid treatments , varroa ove rtime built up resistance so it became ineffective from abuse by some. Leaving in the strips too long and some until the next spring. Wax contamination was another side affect.

Newer treatments less harmful came out but are temperature related , some have caused absconding and queen loss. Apiguard , Maqs and few others use softer organice type chemicals but again odour/aroma both contaminate honey and likely wax.

Favoured by a lot of forward thinking beekeepers is sublimination/fumigation using oxalic acid , in the UK apibioxal is the legal route. Typically no residues and no contamination of wax.
One though has to be careful with it's application so PPE is required to prevent inhilation and absorbtion thru the skin when handling..