2 Week update with the ApiTablet

[@CastleHives]

If you started at 6.47% and you're at 8.05% now, I would go to another treatment besides the tablet. That high of a count at this time of year is huge. Now, this brings up the question, can you use OA, Apivar, or another treatment with the ApiTablets. I asked Mehmet, and he said just use them. That isn't really the response that makes me want to trust the product.

[@CastleHives]

P.S. I am going to use some tabs, but not while I have Apivar on. I don't want to nuke any colonies by having an unknown reaction happen.

[@33MileBees]

Yes, I am doing OA treatments also, just not on these 2 hives until after next week. My thought was that as long as it wasn't another treatment that uses thymol that it would be good to use as a combo. No matter what my mite counts are WAY too high.

[@CastleHives]

@@33MileBees Oh that's good. My last wash, I had a high of 11. Way high for me. Hopefully the Apivar helps out. If temps are decent, i'll wash when the strips come out.

[@WalkerBeeRanch]

also he wased way more bees, so even though the shake was higher, the shakes werent consistent so the rise in count could be subject to that.

[@CastleHives]

​@WalkerBeeRanch If he counted the Bees and determined a %, regardless of the number of bees, the % is the %. I could wash 300 bees, get 9 mites and it is 3%. I could wash 3k bees and get 30 mites, it is still 3%.

[@rodneycrow5729]

They’re your bees so do what you want to do BUT why would you think they are going to feed on thymol with syrup on the hive. The tablets do work well.

[@33MileBees]

The instructions say to not feed while using them, so that was something I didn't follow, but I was more worried about getting winter feed on them.

[@rodneycrow5729]

Certainly understand what your dilemma was but they won’t eat on them hard with syrup. They are definitely long term though and not short term either way. Leave them in and let them go . Two different approaches at the same time is a good way too go. You’ll come out of winter with about zero.

[@33MileBees]

@rodneycrow5729 yup, it was a crap shoot trying them that late in the season

[@BrianCooper901]

I think the third week will be the number to see. Assuming you had mites going in to almost capped cells 2 weeks ago right before you put the tablets on they all should be hatched out at the end of this second week. Those newly emerged bees would now have been treated under the cappings. The bees hatching this week (week 3) should be the larvae that were exposed to the thymol before they were capped and would be the first round. I would hope you would see a reduction in mites since they all would have been exposed at that point. The percentages still seem high and even if it is effective I hope it wasn't too late to treat the hive and it has time to recover from the mites and any viruses they may be vectoring. If I could I would recommend getting a 1/2 cup scoop so you're not taking out a lot of nurse bees unnecessarily. Thanks for sharing!

[@33MileBees]

Yes, 100% agreed, yea afterwards I realized it was way too many bees that I scooped

[@dcsblessedbees]

@@33MileBees Takes time to catch the full cycle. Thanks for doing this Phil.

[@lomavistabeeco]

Brian is spot on! I would even think about delaying it to the 24th or 25th day just to make sure any drone brood here or there has been taken into acct. I also agree with Brian about getting a half cup so your samples become a little more consistent.

[@33MileBees]

@lomavistabeeco yes, my estimate of grabbing 300 bees was way off, but yra I. Mostly interested in the final numbers, as the brood is emerging and going through a full cycle. Again I'm no scientist, so any input is greatly appreciated!

[@dcsblessedbees]

🤨Look Phil your a scientist now, that is literately how easy it is to be a scientist. 😱Buddy you had a crap ton of mites when you started all this.😂 I can tell you think much they are a lot calmer then at first.

[@33MileBees]

i definitely do not clam to be a scientist, a statistician i feel closer to.

[@dcsblessedbees]

@@33MileBees 🤔You do realize the only thing that makes a scientist is using the scientific method?😁 Any time anyone runs any experiment with in established parameters it makes them a scientist.

[@33MileBees]

@dcsblessedbees oops I better delete everything I have done so far then 😆

[@dcsblessedbees]

@@33MileBees 😉Your just a sloppy scientist that's all.🤣Have a great day Phil, thank for your time.😂

[@33MileBees]

@@dcsblessedbees so you saw the food stains on my belly too? 😆

[@russellkoopman3004]

Phil, I was hoping to see a bigger drop in mite counts. Not sure if your area is like mine but here the workers are kicking out the drones which is when the hives see a jump in mite counts. The Apitablets maybe a good mid-summer treatment to help control the mites similar to OA pads, neither strong enough to be a knockdown mite control (which one is) but can help them from getting out of control. Thanks for the update Phil.

[@33MileBees]

our drones were kicked out about a month ago, yes it is pretty late also to be doing this, and i think that it definitly has promise to be doing one in the spring and also in the fall, and catch anything that needs a little kick with OA.

[@lomavistabeeco]

Amazing Phil! Your bees look a little more calm than they did 2 weeks ago.

[@33MileBees]

Much calmer for sure, im starting to wonder if mite counts are just too high for a long release thymol, the OA is knocking the counts down in the other hives though

[@CastleHives]

🎅