OXALIC ACID VAPOR for Varroa Mites - Did it work?

There were a couple of colonies in Midland City that continued to test high for varroa mites after using Apiguard so I used my new INSTANTVAP vaporizer on them for 4 treatments in 4 weeks. Did it reduce the mite count? Watch and see.
#brucesbees #varroamite #instantvap
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InstantVap link:

[@jhulin9018]

Thanks for making the video Bruce. I just did my first of possibly 3 rounds of OAV today. I used my Lorobbees OAV device today and hoping that the wife is paying attention to my Christmas list and that I get a InstaVap in time for the next two rounds! I also put on "Stan's Soft Sugar Bricks" today (recipe that a local bee keeper came up with that worked well last year with no winter losses).

[@brucesbees]

Great stuff. Rob makes quality products. Thanks for watching and for the comment!

[@MikeBarryBees]

Looks like the OAV worked well. Just wrapped up a second and final treatment here. Found a dead out 😢😢. Hope that weak one strengthens up for you. Thanks for sharing!!

[@brucesbees]

Yeah I am still finding a few dead outs here and there. I have just learned to accept it as a fact of life. Should have plenty of equipment! I have enough boxes for nearly 200 colonies! But am short on frames.

[@gregdunn6422]

Great. Good to know OAV works. Just finished my 3rd dose. Will check em when it warms up a little.

[@carlsledge3868]

I can't remember where of who, but I'm thinking was one those PhD. researchers stating that hive beetles can also spread many of the same viruses that varroa mites are known for, take care and this extremely important if you are trying to juice up your almond pollination hives.

[@brucesbees]

Yes I believe that to be true. Have never seen them like this this time of the year. It just has not been cold. But the next few days are going to be very cold by our standards so maybe that will help. Will be tough to use beetle treatments this time of year. They seem to be less effective when cold.

[@richardhyatt-beekeeping]

Got my InstantVap last fall but, haven't used it until this fall. Sure makes it easier to do Oxalic Acid treatments. I have used the old wand style vaporizer with success and usually had to run 2 jumper cables to get to some of my beehives. Much easier to use the InstantVap. I have the Dewalt battery version and did 14 colonies this morning without hardly any voltage loss. I'm guessing I could do 30 without running out of juice. That said, I did buy two batteries just to be sure.

[@brucesbees]

Yep it’s a great piece of equipment and if you can afford it it’s worth the money for sure!

[@MrBeachbums5]

Good work Bruce. Still waiting for you to visit me in Santa Clara, UT (St. George, UT).

[@brucesbees]

That’s a long ways away! Maybe someday🐝😎

[@waltertchapman32]

Merry Christmas Bruce

[@brucesbees]

You too Terry. Hope all is well!

[@robertsutherjr]

Great Video ! Love my Instantvap my mite counts going into winter are 0.

[@brucesbees]

Yes! Great machine.

[@WildwoodsBeekeeping]

Nice Job Bruce! Glad the OA Worked well for you! Have a wonderful Holiday! God bless

[@beebob1279]

Wow a colony that small will make it in your winter.?

[@brucesbees]

Yes sometimes they make it and sometimes they don’t.

[@brucesbees]

Our winters are fairly mild here.

[@mauricefrancis4078]

Hi, how does it work. Do you have to set the temperature on the Vap or is it already programmed. Thanks .

[@brucesbees]

If is pre-programmed.

[@jeffbrooks6491]

How many 6.0 Amp batteries are you cycling through in a round of treatment? It sucks the life out of the Milwaukee setup.

[@brucesbees]

At 4g I get about 22-23 colonies per battery. Have actually been using 3g on the bigger colonies of late and it lasts longer. Haven’t actually done an exact count. I have 4 batteries. The battery setup cost almost as much as the vaporizer but hopefully they will last for a long time. If I order more I may get the generic ones and see how they do.

[@jeffbrooks6491]

@@brucesbees Thanks. I have the generic Milwaukee. They are not the same. I’m just not getting that far with our batteries. Good to know so I can have a gauge.

[@jeffwhite6343]

Just lost a hive to yellow jackets, didn't even know that could happen.

[@brucesbees]

Yes. It can. That’s unfortunate. I have seen more yellow jackets this year as well.

[@jeffwhite6343]

@@brucesbees I made a trap with some meat, water, and milk and set it beside another hive and it filled up in just a few hours and the yellow jacket queen happened to land on my hive wile I was standing by it so I got her to.

[@brucesbees]

Wow. Sounds like it was effective! Send me a picture of that trap Jeff. I might want to try it!

[@doctortcbkk2027]

Super cold weeks ahead for us in atlanta. Would this be a good time to treat with OAV? I dont even want to open colonies and mess with their seal

[@brucesbees]

Should be ok to do if above freezing in my opinion.

[@brucesbees]

Other folks may feel differently though.

[@brucesbees]

frankthebeeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NJBA-volume-34-issue-2-pages-21-23-1.pdf

[@doctortcbkk2027]

@@brucesbees ohhh never thought about that was just thinking during bloodless time….days are going to be cold. Maybe I should wait until late winter/early spring?

[@brucesbees]

The more broodless the better. I think a day when above freezing would be fine.

[@alhambraorchardapiary4882]

Bruce looks like 300 bees was 1/2 the population in that first hive. I got one that looks about like that as well don't expect them to make it.

[@brucesbees]

Yeah pretty weak. Sometimes they surprise you.

[@taylorboysoutdoors]

Yessir we liking OAV this time of year

[@lasseakseth3171]

How come you guys never use co2 and dry-shake bees for testing? Not good enough, or not approved maybe 🤔 For weaker colonies a cup of bees is a lot to loose. Never seen any americans dry test for varroa.

[@brucesbees]

Would CO2 not kill the bees?

[@lasseakseth3171]

@@brucesbees No, co2 is used for sedating the queens during artificial insemination. For inseminating that takes some time co2 needs to be adjusted. For dry-shake varroa testing you simply give them a good 5-7 secound puff from a cartridge (lifewest or bb-gun cartridge) , shake, count mites, and put the bees back on top of the frames. They will shortly after wake up and go back to work, except the few that got physically injured during shaking. Have to mention that we luckily are in a varroa-free zone and just do a few spot checks once and while. You guys that check each hive regularly maybe find alcohol/soapwash cheaper or more presise🤔

[@brucesbees]

Interesting. Never heard of that before. I still have much to learn.

[@GEEZBEEZ]

Looks like good results for OA this time of year. Enjoyed the video. Thanks and Merry Christmas.

[@brucesbees]

Thanks for checking in. Merry Christmas to you too!

[@MarcellaSmithVegan]

So what are you going to do to tx the SHB?

[@brucesbees]

Not really sure what to do this time of year. It’s about to get really cold. Hasn’t really been very cold before now. Maybe that will help keep them at bay for awhile. I have several methods and have made some videos on them. But they seem to be most effective when it’s warm outside.

[@MarcellaSmithVegan]

@@brucesbees perhaps a oil trap, its common and easy to put in, oil doesn't freeze. Because while you wait the SHB keep breeding, they can take out your hives. Oil traps seem simple, they say add some sugar and apple cider vinegar to the oil to attack them. Your bees cant control such a large population. I would do something quick and worry about the best after. Good luck

[@brucesbees]

Yes the beetle blasters are effective.

[@bradgoliphant]

Bruce, why are you doing a treatment in the winter? Or are you located somewhere where it is still warm?

[@brucesbees]

I am in Alabama. This is the time of year when brood is at it’s lowest point. We never go completely broodless. And yes it never stays cold for very long here though we do have a few days of cold weather ahead.

[@barkersbees]

Bruce I have a question for you if you wouldn’t mind giving me your opinion. I have a hive that was pretty high in varroa mites. There was a lot of varroa like 96 mites per 300 bees. Anyway that hive has died. I live in northern utah and right now our temperature is around 0-20 degrees F. My question is what will happen to the mites with the bees dead? Will they die without the bees or continue to stay in the boxes and frames?

[@brucesbees]

If it’s that cold and needs aren’t flying I would imagine they will die. But I am not really sure. Great question!

[@barkersbees]

@@brucesbees do you know anyone I could ask that might know?

[@brucesbees]

If the bees are dead and other bees can’t fly to rob out the colony then I don’t see any way for mites to be transferred to other bees. If possible I would go ahead and clean up that equipment and you should be fine either way. As far as asking I guess you could ask anyone in the comments on their KZbin channel (Greg Burns, Ian Steppler, Kamon Reynolds, Bob Binnie, Mike Barry to name a few) or there are a number of beekeeping groups on fb. One of my favorites is Texas Friendly Beekeepers.

[@barkersbees]

@@brucesbees thank you very much sir!

[@brucesbees]

No worries.