What date are you treating for Varroa

[MuswellMetro]

Just a poll to see when others are treating they hives with thymol or essential oil varroacides....thymol crystal/apriguard/thymol patties/Apilife var/thymovar/oasis and thymol oils etc and whether you use oxalic as well

 

[itma]

Simply don't know.

After a drop count next week, I'll decide.
But I think there's a likelihood that the level will be low enough that I can skip the Apiguard and continue for longer trying to get a crop!
Decision would be on a hive-by-hive basis.

I'll be chopping off some drone comb below short frames, which should help. Might have some VarroaGard in later and then Oxalic. But I'll be guided by the drop counts.

 

[Into the lions den]

No option for what we do.....firefight as needed during the season and blanket oxalic approx winter solstice.

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

As someone in their first year, I very much welcome this poll.


It seems to me to be well constructed and comprehensive (tin hats on!) and looks like giving a spread of opinion against which I can set my actions - and no doubt those Forum members whose opinions I respect, will add weight and wisdom.

I think it will aid me in making an informed decision.

Dusty.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

it all depends how the flow goes and the mite count - won't be 'til late September whatever. then OA Christmas time

 

[aberreef]

I voted for by the 15th September with oxalic in winter but the timing will depend on whether they bring in any more honey, the weather and how the colony shrinks in readiness for winter. Either way they'll be getting Hivemakers thymol recipe then oxalic around Christmas

 

[VEG]

I treat usually when the balsam starts to go over which can be in october

 

[Tom Bick]

Starting this weekend with Thymol so thats the 18-19th August and no OA

 

[MuswellMetro]

Starting this weekend with Thymol so thats the 18-19th August and no OA

yes, Tom, our BKA advice is normally start the thymol on 18th/19th weekend but this year as the weather forecast is for a hot spell they have put it back until 25th/27th August....hence the poll

our BKA normally recommends the 18th/19th august as the daytime temperament at the end of application (ie 6 weeks ) on 29th September is still above Vita-europe 15c temperature guide (or 17c in some vita-europe literature)

By starting apiguard later say on 29th September then at the end of the application the daytime maximum temperature on 10th Nov in London is 11c...and would have been below the 15c average daily maximum for four weeks

i can not see that thymol is going to be that effective in low temeperature, even for VEG in Western Wales the temepersture are not that much higher than london in November,

 

[VEG]

the temp inside the hive will be more constant than our weather

 

[Lorenz]

I've got the thymol on most of the apiaries already.

Anyone got any views about whether Apiguard or homemade thymol mixture works best?

 

[Hivemaker.]

Anyone got any views about whether Apiguard or homemade thymol mixture works best?

Yes.

 

[MuswellMetro]

the temp inside the hive will be more constant than our weather

but vita-europe says it is the activity of the bees that make it effective, ie they must be flying hence the 15c (or 17c europe), it is not just the internal temeperature but the external temperature that define the bees activity , it is the vita-europes viewsnot mine...they make the stuff, ifollow their advice

FAQ

5. Q: At what time of the year should I use Apiguard?
A: Apiguard is best applied in summer or autumn, outside the period of honeyflow. The external temperature should be above 15°C (60°F), which means that the colony is active. Distribution of
the Apiguard gel depends on the bees transporting it around the hive during the process of hive cleaning, and this activity increases as the external temperature rises. Application during honeyflows should be avoided in case of tainting the honey.

 

[Lorenz]

I have used the homemade version recently, and again this year, as it is cheaper, but a very experienced friend said this was mad and Apiguard is better????

 

[Hivemaker.]

Must be some fairly useless bees if they are only active above 15c.
They are active in much colder weather than that around here.

 

[BeeJayBee]

Must be some fairly useless bees if they are only active above 15c.
They are active in much colder weather than that around here.

Ours were flying when there was still frost on the ground.

 

[Hivemaker.]

but a very experienced friend said this was mad and Apiguard is better????

Why is it better.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Well Our BKA don't thymolise until end Sept early October and that's more Westest than Veg

 

[Lorenz]

Why is it better.

His opinion was :It takes 4 weeks. (I leave treatment on 6.)
He reckoned it doesn't work as well, but I couldn't get him to be clear about exactly how he made his.

 

[Walrus]

I went for 2nd Sept Thymol followed by Oxalic in winter. Can't promise it will be 2nd Sept though, but it will be there or thereabouts.

Dave Cushman did an experiment tracking Apiguard treatment which is very interesting here:
http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/ruary_apiguard_diary.html