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I usually vape in early January (anticipated broodless period). When recently purchasing Apibioxal my provider neigh had apoplexy on hearing I was to vape in September and insisted it would kill brood and be detrimental to winter stock. Furthermore, a Beek colleague considering a series of vapes in the coming month(s) has asked the same question. So, to put it to bed: Have seasoned Apibioxal vaporisation practitioners operating at this time of year suffered brood loss by reason of the practice? Would appreciate experiential comment.
 
I've used as many as 5 vapour treatments in 20 days with zero brood loss.
 
I usually vape in early January (anticipated broodless period). When recently purchasing Apibioxal my provider neigh had apoplexy on hearing I was to vape in September and insisted it would kill brood and be detrimental to winter stock. Furthermore, a Beek colleague considering a series of vapes in the coming month(s) has asked the same question. So, to put it to bed: Have seasoned Apibioxal vaporisation practitioners operating at this time of year suffered brood loss by reason of the practice? Would appreciate experiential comment.

No - also, during scientific trials it was found that vaping had no negative effect on brood - open or sealed.
Your apoplecic provider should be more concerned with not treating now and compromising his winter bees. It will be too late by January.
 
No - also, during scientific trials it was found that vaping had no negative effect on brood - open or sealed.
Your apoplecic provider should be more concerned with not treating now and compromising his winter bees. It will be too late by January.

To be fair, JBM, the experiments they did at University of Sussex (LASI) a couple of years ago involved digging all of the brood out of the comb before vaping. I still don't understand what they thought that would achieve other than present them with 100% phoretic mites - easy pickings!

I did multiple vapings last autumn and found no evidence of brood death AT THE TIME, but that colony had all sorts of queen problems this early summer. Of course, I don't know if there's a connection between the two events - could be just my bad beekeeping!

CVB
 
To be fair, JBM, the experiments they did at University of Sussex (LASI) a couple of years ago involved digging all of the brood out of the comb before vaping.

But they did also conduct experiments on the effect of OA on brood.
 
Am sure it was only ever suggested to dig brood out in winter treatments? and in early oxalix trickle use it was suggested in some European papers to achieve that perfect broodless period. I never felt the need myself. Never seen trickle or vape have any effect on brood myself
 
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I did multiple (4 off 5 days apart) treatments of 3 colonies (out of 8) last August. Killed nothing except lots of mites and 3-5 singed bees/hive - no brood ejected . No impact on 2018 honey yield.

I have done the same - or rather am doing the same - to two colonies this year at present . Done 2 vapes, 2 to come. No signs of any dead brood being ejected. Bees in treated colonies flying normally.

As often in beekeeping, bull excrement baffles brains..:sunning:
 
I did multiple vapings last autumn and found no evidence of brood death AT THE TIME, but that colony had all sorts of queen problems this early summer. Of course, I don't know if there's a connection between the two events - could be just my bad beekeeping!

CVB

A 5yr old queen killed by flying storm debris last marcb had been given over 30 vapour treatments. Many of the early ones were nearer 5g per dose than 3g.with zero issues.
I find it more than a bit of a stretch to make a connection to 'issues" 8 or 9 months after vaping.
 
Have vaped plain OA for several years and had no problems. Just a note re brood less period. In his national honey show lecture, Ben Harden says the most likely brood less period is November, early December, but that it is also very variable, with some colonies having no break at all.
 
only ever treated with OA Sublimation, aside from a couple of bees cooked in the pan (on those vaped through the entrance) I've not seen any adverse effects.
 
Some of us believe early January too late but with winters changing who knows waiting on release of a long range forecast next week by a reliable tweeter
 

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