to oxalic or not to oxalic

[peteinwilts]

Hi Guys

Probably a question for beekeepers that have been around for a few years that has been through topsy turvy winters.

I am not suggesting 'if' but when.

I have been Oxalicing the last few years on or around 1st January.
However, this year is bit more challenging.

Many of my bees were still brooding in October with the outside temps around 8-10 degrees.
With so much mild weather, I am concerned they may be still brooding (I hasten to add, I have not looked!)

Also, I was in the belief that it is better to use Oxalic when the bees are tightly clustered.

The outlook for the weather is a continuation of mild conditions, with a 'possible' cold spell towards the end of the month. I am tempted to wait until the cold spell, but with such crazy weather, what happens if the cold spell does not arrive and we go straight into spring...

Should I bite the bullet and go for the Oxalic regardless of the weather and possible brood, or should I wait?
Cheers
Pete

 

[dpearce4]

I did mine yesterday as i think the end of the month will be to late, they will have started their spring build up by then so even less chance of them being broodless.


If you can do them first thing in the morning it is still cold enough for them to be in cluster at the moment.

 

[Erichalfbee]

If you can do them first thing in the morning it is still cold enough for them to be in cluster at the moment.

This is what I did yesterday morning.
One colony in a wooden box was up at me as soon as I took off the crown board and another in a poly was clustered nice and quietly. Temp 5˚

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Bite the bullet and go for it - as the days lengthen the queen will pick up her laying a bit so probably you'll have more brood than now.

 

[peteinwilts]

cheers guys! the weekend it is!

 

[Luminos]

Did mine this morning - waited until the temperature reached 5C then went for it...

 

[kathrynat]

I did mine yesterday and they were all fairly tightly clustered and the temperature was 10 degrees.

 

[richardbees]

Pete, agree with the rest to do it tomorrow, did mine last Thursday.

 

[Ross]

Anyone got any ideas of how late I can leave it to oxalic my bees. The plan was to have them done in the last few days but I slipped a disc and can't lift anything. Plus the drugs I am on mean I can't drive ( I can barely type at the moment!)

Is late better than nothing or better to not bother?

Ross

 

[dpearce4]

if you did ur treatment in the autumn they should be ok. you could always wait until u do ur split in the spring and do them when thier broodless then.

 

[Firefly]

Thanks all - you have convinced me to "go"

Just a question of principle: why does the temperature and/or degree of clustering at the time of application matter? I thought the only important point was to have as little brood as possible so, ideally, apply after a cold snap (some chance!)? During the actual application, wouldn't it be slightly better for the bees if the temp is a bit warmer and wouldn't it make for a more thorough distribution of acid if the bees are not too tightly clustered?

 

[Finman]

During the actual application, wouldn't it be slightly better for the bees if the temp is a bit warmer and wouldn't it make for a more thorough distribution of acid if the bees are not too tightly clustered?

Antonio Nanetti says that efficacy is better if out temp is warmer.

If there is some brood now in hives, you may take them off and then trickle. It is better than leave mites to grow into hives.
Or you collect all brood into one hive and give them a special treatment later with thymol

Trickling works fine to swarms too in summer.

 

[Bungalow]

I did two hives yesterday. Mistake. It was 8c and calm, but bees flew up at me, really aggressive. I had a veil but just a lab coat and got several stings on the wrist. I will wait for 3-4c before trying again. Hives were full though! Ten seams of bees in the commercial hive an the overwintering Polynuc was full too. And they were ALL cross.

Should one use smoke in the winter?

 

[Pete Nicholson]

Not doing mine this year as had Varroa problem and took apistan strips out on 22nd Dec. after the prescribed 6 weeks. No mite drop visible on either hive at end of treatment.
Assuming that they are 'mostly' both clear and don't want to hit them with more treatment.
Do Forum members agree that is the right course?
cheers
P.

 

[BeeJayBee]

I've used Apivar this year. I didn't check the mite drop after the first few days because there didn't seem to be much point, and so removed the varroa counting board from each hive.

During the coming season I'll be removing drone brood, might shook swarm onto new frames, and will monitor mite drop.

I read on a US site that a good way of telling if there are too many mites is to use the month number +1. So in July 8 mites per day would be too high. It seems to match the beebase calculator.

 

[Skyhook]

I did two hives yesterday. Mistake. It was 8c and calm, but bees flew up at me, really aggressive. I had a veil but just a lab coat and got several stings on the wrist. I will wait for 3-4c before trying again. Hives were full though! Ten seams of bees in the commercial hive an the overwintering Polynuc was full too. And they were ALL cross.

Should one use smoke in the winter?

Maybe a good idea to have it lit and to hand in case they are ready to rumble- but don't use it unless required.

 

[lindalinda]

if left untreated the fogging varroa will destroy your colony.

 

[oliver90owner]

if left untreated the fogging varroa will destroy your colony.

Not because of avoiding oxalic. There are other ways to treat, IF necessary.

In the sort term, yes. Sooner or later the honey bee will have to cope on its own. Humans are not going to be around forever; it is likely the bees will continue, unless humans kill them all off.

 

[Ross]

I did my Varroa treatment last week, I'm glad I waited, the snow and cold snap gave me a broodless period and could treat all my hives with no problems. Down in Cornwall particularly in poly hives it is often warm enough that the Queen doesn't really go out of lay.

The bees were clam, although a pair of fighting rooks fell out of the sky and nearly landed inside the open hive, which I think might have upset the bees slightly. I have never seen birds fall out of the sky let alone land 2' from an open beehive. It always pays to have a lit smoker you never know what might happen.

Ross

 

[poshpikey]

I did mine two days ago. Just hadn't seemed like the right weather till then.