Beekeeping: Spring Varroa Mite Treatment with Oxalic Acid Vaporizer made by Provap

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hi folks. I don't recommend using the wood bleach version of the OA. It isn't pure and leaves a residue in the tube and the next time you use it, it will blow the lid off in your face. I used a copper wire to break it up and remove it. It took me a couple times to figure out it was the Wood Bleach OA that was the problem. I switched to a laboratory grade OA and haven't had the problem since and it's not that expensive either. Here's a link to where I get my OA now: amzn.to/35t9PzW. Thanks for watching and BEE Safe!

[@RickeyMcDaniel]

Yep, that is what I use. Good stuff.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Yes, works much better. The wood bleach works fine in the wand type, but that small tube on the vaporizer.

[@50shadesofgreen]

🐝🐝🐝 another awesome update on the Beehives Darren 🐝🐝🐝

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hey Simon! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@szolarfarmmeheszet8675]

My device is ProVap220 v, Hungarian product. I am very satisfied with it.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Cool. We’re 110 here. I like my provap 👍👍🐝🐝

[@ECP]

Neat video... new beekeeper here making a few videos myself... glad I found your channel

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Thanks and good luck.

[@reelinhuntin]

I went ahead and paid the big bucks for the provap 110 system myself. Had 4 hives die out to varroa in the fall and managed to bring back several others with this vaporizer. I don't do a spring treatment though. Varroa/temperament is a big factor on which hive I requeen from.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

It's expensive, but I think it's worth it. Especially if you have more than ten hives or so. It's a big time saver. I think it also vaporizes a lot better than the wand vaporizers. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@szolarfarmmeheszet8675]

These devices are the good ones, where you can set the temperature exactly .

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

I haven’t had to adjust the temperature on mine yet. It’s still set where I got it from the factory. Thanks for watching.

[@szolarfarmmeheszet8675]

@@JeromeBeeFarm they sell many things that cannot be adjusted. There are a lot of Chinese bovli.

[@RickeyMcDaniel]

Nice looking chickens.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Thanks 👍. Those are Buff Orpingtons. They are very friendly, just like pets. lol Thanks for watching.

[@RickeyMcDaniel]

Interesting. You are welcome, thanks for the videos.

[@szolarfarmmeheszet8675]

👌👍👋👋👋👋

[@arogue469]

For some reason, when the music starts playing, I expect to see Snoopy hanging out on top of one of the hives!

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

It's not a Sopwith Camel hive I guess.

[@andrewklahold2880]

Hello jerome i just looked in an 8 frame hive that i started from a package on april 8th they had five frames of comb to get started in this hive i, and about four weeks ago i put a second deep on that was just blank fondations i looked in it this evening wow what a suprize all 8 frames in the second deep are filled out completely so i put a honey supper on

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hey Andrew. That's awesome! Sounds like you have a strong nectar flow going on and a good queen. Keep track of the dates as to when they slow down, so you will know next year. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@andrewklahold2880]

Oh and this queen that is doing this good she was one of the smallest queens i ever saw well now she is the biggest i even named her little bitty beth

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

So I did find a queen laying in this hive later, and she was definitely bigger. I guess she was the same one. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@BlythewoodBeeCompany]

Hope you don't mind but I'm going to link to your video from my KZbin page. Thanks!

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Don't mind at all. Glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@LClan95]

Thank you for the video. Question: In Texas here and, in the winter, we have days that the bees are out more vs. staying in -depending on weather. So, is it preferable to do this when the bees are more present? ...or pick a time that they are more likely to be out?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

The more bees in the hive the better. You don’t want to do it when it is really cold and they are clustered tight because it will cause them to break cluster and lose heat and possibly freeze out. There’s a minimum recommended temperature like around 45 deg. Check to be sure. I usually pick a day that’s in the 50s and it fits my schedule. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@enstreetbees9968]

Curious if you said i missed do you do a 3 week cycle in the Spring? i havent bought a provap yet hard to justify on 3 hives so i use the Burgess insect sprayer method with Oxalic & grain alcohol mix Joe May "Skinny Bee Man"' method on doing 3 weeks to get all the mites in the capped cells then once a month through the summer,

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

EnStreet Bees I try to two consecutive treatments in spring and fall. I waited a little late this spring. Best to do it when least amount of capped brood is in the hive. I usually wait 14 days because that’s when I have time on weekends. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@privatebubba8876]

Try Jeff Willard's blend. This is what we use on the Clubs hives.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

I'll look into it. Thanks for the tip!

[@Makermook]

I'm a new beekeeper in Kentucky; I got my first bees only about 2 months ago (it's early September now). I finished treating with Apiguard, 3 weekly doses, about a week ago. I've bought an oxalic acid vaporizer which I intend to use for a single treatment in early December. Do you recommend doing another OA treatment in spring before the flow starts? After it starts? Before adding honey supers? Thanks in advance. P.S. I'm getting a couple boxes of bees to go into some new hives in the spring. Should I treat the new bees with OA after I get them?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Since you treated with Apiguard, they are probably in pretty good shape right now. You could do an OA treatment before they start brooding up. For Kentucky, I would guess that would be late February, but check with local beekeepers. You shouldn't treat package bees until the queen is laying. OA treatments on packages can encourage them to abscond. (That's what I've read anyway and have no experience with that.) The only bees I've ever purchased were Nucleus colonies that were already established. Thanks for watching.

[@nikigores8774]

How much OA crystals did you use for vaporizing your two-deep colonies? I noticed you put two scoops in there but wasn’t sure whether it was a quarter teaspoon, half teaspoon or a full teaspoon...thanks, Darren!

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hi Niki. I'm pretty sure it's a 1/2 tsp, but I heap it up pretty good, so it's probably close to 1.5 tsp.

[@andrewklahold2880]

Jerome so your not afraid to use oxcilic acid how much dose are you useing however with just my 8 hives i am going to just use sugar dusting for now and in spring of 2020 i want to make a few splits and purchase a few more packages

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

I think it's 1/2 tsp per deep box. The cup on the fumigator came with a measuring spoon and it's one spoon per deep. I also do not treat with honey supers on. Usually in the fall and early spring. There are studies done on the different types of treatment. I think they call it efficacy. You can look up the different results of all the different treatment types, as well as sugar dusting. Good luck, and thanks for commenting.

[@nikigores8774]

How much OA crystals do you use for vaporizing your two deep colonies? I noticed you put two in, not sure whether you were using a quarter, half or full teaspoon...thanks, Darren!

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hi Niki. I'm pretty sure it's a 1/2 tsp, but I heap it up pretty good, so it's probably close to 1.5 tsp.

[@andrewklahold2880]

Oh and i live in York Pa about 40 miles south of Harrisburg and west of lancaster pa

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Ive been in that area a few times. Ate at Millers several times. Pretty country. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@aleklysikov6033]

Thank you for showing video ! I like your sublimate! How many years do use? Thank for answers! North west USA!

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hi Alek. This is my second year to use the provap. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@aleklysikov6033]

Jerome Bee Farm & Homestead Hi.! Jerome! My question is you have ideas for sublimate cheeper then $$ 500.???

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

@@aleklysikov6033 Check out Jason Christman's channel. He has one he made and I think he has a parts list in his affiliate links. Jason is an excellent beekeeper and makes really informative videos. The only cheap option i know of is the 12V glow plug wand style and they are really slow if you have a lot of hives it will take you forever.

[@andrewklahold2880]

I just thought of some thing what if you had a brass or copper or even stainless fural ring the fits the oxsilorater and pressed them in to the hole on the hives

[@Les0613]

Another good video, thanks. Getting ready to treat my hives. Just curious, why do you leave an opening on the front entrance? Seems like a significant amount of fumes were escaping. I use the wand (don’t have enough hives to justify the provap) and the instructions state close off entrance. Is there a difference?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Well, honestly I was too lazy to make a cover that covers the whole entrance. lol. When I used the wand style I would close it off with two small towels and the bees were super pissed when I took them off. I don’t think the little hole hurts much. The provap seems to put out way more vapors than the wand did. Maybe it’s just because it’s so fast and just seems that way. Also with the entrance completely closed off, the field bees would pile up outside. I need to cut me some boards specially to cover all the entrance. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@426superbee4]

FREAKING OUT? I never have to do mine. Cause i have the rite strains! ITALIANS and AHB's > Can You believe this > Even my drone hive has no MITES > Been a live for 14 yrs and even produces HONEY> slowly the AHB are getting mix with the Italians There taming down more and more, pretty fast now, They still got the killer in them and still act like AHB's There not as aggressive> They use to follow me all over the place lmao had to scrap them off walking under trees > THAT GOT EM LOST

[@privatebubba8876]

I have Minnesota Hygienic Strain, I have yet to reach treatment level for varroa. I monitor with a sticky board and alcohol washes. When there is a lot of brood hatched I find an increase in chewed up dead varroa on the sticky board. Scientist took some colonies of AHBs to Puerto Rico and after a short period their aggressive traits were gone.

[@426superbee4]

@@privatebubba8876 That so cool Lmao sound like they went to town on em yep very very true they do tame down threw other genetic DNA strains Fastest way REPLACE THE QUEEN i wanted them for breeders to breed other strains TO MAKE MORE HYBRIDS the AHB drones are very aggressive in mating with other strains WHAT COMES OUT? a baby hybrid

[@Mackabees]

I'm a new keeper and going to start with three hives. One of the queens is a VSH mite bit queen. What ratio of VSH mite bit queen should I have. I know it's an estimate. I plan to have around 50 hives in 3-4 years. Lost of splits and adding queens.

[@426superbee4]

@@Mackabees 1st Make sure what kind of mite it is? so you know how to deal with it, There like 27k kinds of mites! Just cause there mites in the hive> Don't mean there varroa mites! there bird mites that gets into the hives as well as many other kinds too! i have no need to treat > Strain i got don't get mites! And too i run a SHB OIL TRAP that kills any SHB, Wax Moths Mites AND there Larva This show you how to make one> THE SCREEN IS #8 HARDWARE CLOTH the stick used on top are wide as the board and 3/8" high THAT CALLED BEE SPACE BEE SPACE IS 3/8" to 1/4" high THAT BEE SPACE! kzbin.info/www/bejne/f37TfZ6GpNBlibc&list=PLMDX9kxdLTLtN5ufAuF8q-4IdteXijQtn&index=8

[@426superbee4]

@@Mackabees Going to start may i suggest to GET THE> " ITALIAN STRAIN OF HONEY BEES " You will have less problems and there a honey making machine! what i got is ITALIANS and AHB i mix them to make HYBRIDS> also Italian honey bees is a hybrid> They also they want get Varroa Mites! There to hyper active