Ep 83 Improving Oxalic Acid Varroa Mite treatments

[@howardperson6341]

Such a good approach. I’m doing that to. It works so well that it makes me nervous.😀

[@TracysBees8713]

Great video very informative.

[@noureddinemekdad6705]

Valuable information thank you very much

[@andrewk1191]

Thanks. I did oxalic vapor in early spring. Swedish sponges right after that and put new ones in late July. Did an alcohol wash last week on 2 hives (out of 10) and came to 1 mite per half a cup of bees in each hive. Thanks for the update on your end.

[@KiwiWildman]

Good to hear. Cheers Chris

[@virgilcrites8906]

I vaporize all winter on warm days when they break cluster and are out flying. Had 100% survival on 28 hives. Where do you get those strips? I can’t find them in the US. Thanks for doing great videos they are very informative.

[@KiwiWildman]

Thanks. As far as I am aware, it is currently not permitted to use extended release oxalic acid strips in the US, unless there has been a recent change. I buy the cardboard strips from Beequip NZ online. They do ship overseas, but only in very large quantities otherwise the shipping makes them very expensive. Cheers Chris

[@valeriedoane2923]

Very helpful information thanks. You said you treat 3X a year -Spring, Fall & midsummer using the combo approach of OAE & OA VAP in the Spring & Fall. My question is, for the mid-summer do you use the combo as well or only OAE? I’m in the U.S. & the strips have FINALLY been approved & will be available sometime this summer which in the U. S. is right now so any day now!

[@KiwiWildman]

It depends on the mite levels. I do some sample tests to check before treating. If the levels are up at all (above 1-2 per hundred) I OA vape as well. Cheers

[@valeriedoane2923]

@@KiwiWildman Thx very much!

[@gypsyboy2112]

What do you use for strip material and what is your measurements for acid and ???

[@KiwiWildman]

Hi, my Episode 45 shows 3 different types of strip material and Episode 48 explains the recipe and process for making the strips. Cheers Chris

[@alessandroeusepi]

Ottimo grazie

[@Sousa27952]

Hi do u have the recipe for the treatment ?

[@KiwiWildman]

Hi, yes I have made several videos showing the process of making the strips with the recipe. Check out the playlist. Cheers

[@rtxhoneybees]

In the US they are saying the contents of the Swedish sponge is the issue. Have you settled on which medium you are using for delivery of the OA?

[@KiwiWildman]

Hi, I am using commercially made cardboard strips now. Cheers Chris

[@TheBeePlace]

@rtxhoneybees re: In the US they are saying the contents of the Swedish sponge is the issue. Would you care to elaborate or provide any references to this statement? Just curious, I was about to try the sponges, but may need to rethink that idea... btw I'm in south central Texas.

[@KiwiWildman]

Hi, I settled on the cardboard strips, for now. They work as well as the other options but are commercially available here in NZ, more convenient to use and cheaper. I would be surprised to hear that there are problems with the Swedish sponges, they are biodegradable and made as dish clothes so you would assume they are food safe and therefore safe to put in a hive. If it turns out that they aren't safe for use in a hive then they probably shouldn't be approved for use as dish cloths either.

[@rangireice1059]

What happened to the gas-vap are you not using that? When do you vap as in time of day because if it’s too warm won’t a lot of the bees be out foraging so get missed? Can you vap them early when they are clustered up? Sorry few questions here but just got my gasvap and have given my hives a couple of shots 4 days apart so far and done them earlish before they start flying, it is still cold and frosty here in the top of the south and imagine they’ll be clustered up inside

[@KiwiWildman]

Hi, yes I am still using the GasVap, I just grabbed some handy footage of me vaporising for this video. I don't think the time of day matters when you are vaporising, as best as I understand it the OA you put in the hive lingers about for several days so field bees get treated when they return. And yes, doing them early when they are clustered should be fine, I don't have that option as I have too many hives to get done. But I generally leave the bees alone during frosty conditions, I don't want to make them break cluster and cool down. I'm not sure if it matters, I am just being cautious. Cheers Chris

[@rangireice1059]

Thanks for your reply Chris, like your vids as they are very informative for a newby like myself especially since you are in NZ as well