Varroa Mite Treatment: Extended Release Oxalic Acid on Swedish Sponge

[@glendaglass7264]

As a retired laboratory tech, I recommend eye protection, a dust mask, and covering the work area with disposable paper in addition to gloves when making the sponges. After the oxalic acid powder is stirred into the glycerin the dust mask is no longer needed. I’ve been using this method in my horizontal and top bar hives for several years with good success. August mite counts of 0-1.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Hi Glenda, I should be better at safety. I've heard how nasty working with Oxalic acid can be especially in its vaporized form. Thanks for the advice. Cheers!

[@timjones6637]

How long you left it on top bar? A month or two?

[@glendaglass7264]

@@timjones6637 I put the oxalic acid sponges on the floor of the hives and leave them there for about two months then renew with fresh sponges.

[@timjones6637]

@@glendaglass7264 Good thoughts 👍🏻

[@robwildfieldhoney]

@@timjones6637 You can leave it for 30-45 days.

[@larrylosciale9656]

Nice video but a few things. You didn't mention that this is not an approved treatment. As mentioned in another comment better PPE should be used. Also I would not use a metal pot to heat an acid mixture rather a glass vessel in a water bath. On Randy's site he uses a specific size sponge (6x7inches I believe) and cuts them in 4 - 1.75 inch strips. He then stands these on edge which allows him to pour over all the strips edges and not have to handle them as you do. The latest I've heard Randy say is they have kept the sponges on for up to 73 days (mine degrade sooner). If you find your system works for you great, if not perhaps some adjustments closer to Randy's description may help.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Thanks for the comment Larry. This is the first time I'm using this method, I prefer using the OA method over other treatments. I'll see how this works and adjust. Cheers

[@lylephipps3437]

We are working on getting it approved so if you want to sign up for (infrequent) updates you can chek out our site www.honeybeenaturalpesticides.com

[@robwildfieldhoney]

@@lylephipps3437 I like this. I'll check it out.

[@country_dweller]

Following up to see if you had good success with your OAE?

[@robwildfieldhoney]

@@country_dweller Yes, I have. Sorry I did not record a follow-up. I shook 0 after the treatments were done. 1 or 2 hives had a 1 mite count. I am going to follow-up with a OAV when the temps begin to drop.

[@socialanimalspodcast5910]

Production quality is improving really well man!

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Cheers mate! thanks

[@katevesprini7085]

Another great post. You are so full of wisdom thanks for sharing it with the world :)

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Thanks for commenting. It makes me happy to hear your kind words.

[@vitaliypchela]

Nice advices, great video! Thank you! Hello from Ukraine!

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Thank you! I hope you are keeping safe in Ukraine. My family and I have helped send rations over to Ukraine.

[@KajunHomestead]

Great video, looking to start using this method. I'm using just the vaporizer right now and looking for something to leave in the hive. thanks.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Hi Kajun, Thanks for commenting. What I plan to do this spring is use the pad in between the frames of the brood nest. I plan to cut the sponge into strips and string them between the frames. It's been a warm winter up till now so the bees should come out of winter strong.

[@jhulin9018]

In Randy's article he stated it takes 2 months to achieve full efficacy. He also said that it took about 55 inches square of matrix material (sponge) holding 50g of OA dissolved into 50g of Glycerin. So I am curious why your treatment is only for 30 days and why you are only using 2 strips/hive which is only 35.8 inches square of area (far short of Randy's 55 inches square).

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Thanks for the comment. My intention is to do 2 separate 30-day treatments with a break in between. The sponges in the video where the only ones I could find on Amazon at the time, so I decided to use them. In my second treatment I'll add more area of treatment for each colony. Cheers.

[@RyanMcDonnough]

Randy also states that the treatment is intended to be used earlier in the season (May-July) - in order to keep mite loads low…not to reduce an already-high mite load.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

@@RyanMcDonnough Completely agree. My mite loads are very low so I decided to go with it. My goal of this treatment is to clear any mites from the bees that would be currently raising my winter bee cluster in preparation for winter. I'll go back in Oct-Nov with OAV or a dribble to really clear things up. Cheers.

[@AmericansBee]

No breaks between treatments. I left mine in all year and no issues noticed. Once august came I removed then and did mite counts. Only two hives with more then 1 or 2, they had 4 and 5. Regardless, Apigaurd is used in august. 25g per week for 4 treatments. Then recount.

[@RyanMcDonnough]

@@AmericansBee That’s essentially the same thing that I’m doing. Just applied ApiGuard yesterday. Will also do OAV x4 4g/box w/ 4-day interval in mid-winter

[@kirbyharrissrigsby8795]

I believe it should be at least 42 days. And 50 gms per treatment is important. I found them very effective last year. Getting them in again now.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

They work well and compared to other treatments I prefer this for the price and gentleness on bees.

[@dougpeterson5257]

Thanks for the demonstration of this method, I have heard of it and this makes it quite clear. Going to give it a try in 23

[@robwildfieldhoney]

I'm glad you found it helpful. I found this to be the easiest treatment for me that uses OA which I find is very effective against mites.

[@josephvogel7234]

I have been using the shop towel version of this treatment. You clearly know what an adequate measurement to coat the sponges. Can you please publish how much of each you used.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Thanks for the comment. For this application I used 50g of both OA and glycerine for each sponge.

[@carlsledge3868]

@@robwildfieldhoney So you're using 100 grams total per colony, but the solution is only 50% OA, thus 50 grams per colony and 25 grams per sponge and placed generally over the brood nest. Thx for the video, it's easy to follow, and yes Randy Oliver is genius in his thinking.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

@@carlsledge3868 Thanks for commenting! Yes, that's correct only 50G of OA per sponge.

[@michaelhall7921]

@@carlsledge3868 Randy Oliver is the real saviour of bees. Those who are finding his method fantastic are worried the Bee Police mite get them but oxalic acid is passed as ok to spray directly on bees so why not extended release????

[@carlsledge3868]

OK I did all my hives back in late August, I have 4 double deeps and 3 - 5 nuks, which one is a 5 over 5, I used 75g OA and 75g veg glycerin per 20 frames, double deeps got whole sponge cut into 2 pieces placed top bars in bottom box, double nuk got 1/2 a sponge cut into 2 pieces, the single nuks got a 1/4 sponge cut into 2 pieces, the strongest double still has sponges on now Jan 30th, with no effects, I'll pull then the next 70f day we have and give then a full frame of capped honey and sub patty

[@timjones6637]

I’ve notice you have small open hole at top center.. is the for vent? What would happen during the winter loose heating from vent?

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Great question. This is what I use for an upper entrance. In the winter it helps vent out any moisture in the hive. It works for me, I learned it from other beekeepers in my area. Our winters are cold with a lot of snow. Cheers.

[@DavidWilliams-wr4wb]

How are they working for you so far ? One of the guys in my bee group started using them last year and he said it’s working amazingly!

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Hey David, thanks for the comment. They worked great! I'm going to put them on as soon as the maple blossoms open. Should tackle any mites that lasted the winter.

[@DavidWilliams-wr4wb]

@@robwildfieldhoney awesome, I was told by someone in my local bee group they work better for complete might control because the timing crosses the brood span and doesn’t give them a chance to successfully breed and his bees are healthier because of it and you can leave them on with supers correct? Thanks !

[@EvgenCh79]

Круто 👍. Я тоже использую такой раствор для борьбы с клещем вароа, только вместо губки изпользую картон. В следующем году можно использовать губку повторно?

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Thank you for the comment.

[@mauriceupton1474]

Great idea. Could we use Formic acid? Will it dissolve in glycerin? Formic kills mites in the cells but it corrodes the nails and metals really fast. Just treated mine. Doesn't seem to matter which method I use oxalic formic I still lose hives to varroa mites I think the treatments Shorten the life of the Queen's. Getting tired of the expense and the extra work load.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Hang in there, it takes time to nail down what mite treatment works best for you. In my experience Formic is a little tricky to use in the fall. It messes with the queen and in the fall you cannot afford to loose any queens. Check out my other video on mite treatments, oxalic vapour is a great treatment when the colony is broodless. Good Luck.

[@grubbm4927]

Great video! I have two deeps and a medium on right now, should I put the sponges in between the deep and medium? Thx!!

[@robwildfieldhoney]

I would, the idea is to get them to walk all over it and spread it through the hive. I overwinter my colonies outside so in November when there is no brood I'll use either an OV dribble of OAV to get rid of the rest of the mites. Good luck.

[@MichaelPusateri]

Good video. Thanks for showing the technique.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed.

[@terrir8525]

It's a bummer that he hasn't been able to get this method approved by the EPA. Wish they'd just make it legal already!

[@robwildfieldhoney]

I agree completely. Randy does a lot for the community.

[@AmericansBee]

Epa is trash. No money in this for them thats why. Just do it.

[@michaelhall7921]

Right on buddy...... All who are 'bending' the method giving the varroa something to drink by only a subtle change of tactics deserve to be listened to at least. it's been said by 'thinking' beekeepers that there is no money in the oxalic acid however it's administered..... Might be right in that respect especially if their way of keeping their precious bees safe from that parasite works! What happened I wonder to the RNAi research? Sounded good way back but what now? In the meantime why not kill as many varroa mites as humanly possible?

[@honeyhome7196]

May i k ow tge ratio please

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Randy Oliver has the best ratios on his website.

[@MD-lh5ln]

Hello. I put the strips in this summer and i left them till now. You think the strips still work? Or should i do a winter treatment? Thx 🙏🙏🙏

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Hey I think after a while the treatment gets used up. Also I like to give my bees a break from OA. I always do a winter treatment in the fall before I tuck my bees away for the winter.

[@michaelhall7921]

The bees don't seem hurt by the method. In three months of continuous hammering of fresh strips each month the mites went down to zero. I bought a new nuc which had a bad infestation last June. The chap said he uses no chemicals in his honey production. I I were him I would be ashamed of selling bees absolutely lathered in mites. 30 mite drop the next day after transporting them. 300 a week later. I just love torturing mites with acid. I don't think I'll be seeing that beekeeper again but I do have 1300 mites in IPA to give him to show the O. acid strips work. The hive exploded with bees after the 3 month strips! Incidentally but importantly, R O says he thinks the method interferes adversely with the mites breeding program? ?????? acid on the genitals??????

[@AmericansBee]

Oh, and are you @Castlehives brother?

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Nope thats not me.

[@jonathanhofer5050]

Ha ha

[@AmericansBee]

7:13 Curious, why are you using 9 frames and pushing all frames together defeating the point of using 9 frames??

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Great observation. I do this because I have cut comb fames mixed in with honey extracting frames. I don't want my bees to draw out the cut comb frames too far because then they wont fit in the containers I use for packaging. Great question!

[@AmericansBee]

@@robwildfieldhoney ah ok. Thats what i was thinking since you were talking about cut comb.

[@muharrempellumbi372]

Sa gram acid do nje cope dhe sa glicerina sa copa sfungjeri vendosni ne koshere

[@robwildfieldhoney]

thjesht përdorni pjesë të barabarta sipas peshës. pra 50G acid dhe 50G glicerinë. Kam përdorur Google Translate, shpresoj ta kuptoni.

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

Good video

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Thanks Ian. Your videos really helped me out in the early days of beekeeping. I really appreciate the work you put behind all your videos. You keep making them and I'll keep watching them.

[@muharrempellumbi372]

A mundet ti perdorimi ata letra sfungjeri ne raste te tjera vitin tjeter

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Unë do t'i bëj ato siç keni nevojë për to. Ju nuk dëshironi që jashtë të jetë shumë nxehtë.

[@StubbornFight]

I have some experience with the 1:1 sponges. They will not work well this way that are placed. They have to be in between two boxes (ex. Betweeen broodbox and super). The hive has to have a lot of bees and activity, so that they constantly walk on the sponges. 60 days needed. Bee activity and surface are key for this case of treatment.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Thanks for this. I'll see how the bees did.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

@@bojangles8582 Hahaha I want to get every single mite.

[@michaelhall7921]

@@robwildfieldhoney Did you see Randy Oliver quietly said. Some hives can be totally free of mites after the strip method..... After all the 'Argies' have had good results since 2013. I thought I saw one of Randy's recent experiments where he soaked the absorbent strips on a tray? He then pressed excessive 1 to 1 solution off of the strips. The bees don't seem to shift the capillary matting strips compared to the thinner 2mm fibre strips. Both kill loads of mites though.... Isn't it time this method is recognised as a perfect method?

[@robwildfieldhoney]

@@michaelhall7921 I'm going to try this in the spring.

[@timjones6637]

My bigger issue is hive beetle in Virginia.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Thankfully I don't have them in my area yet! I say yet because they are now in southern Ontario. Cheers.

[@thanosrevenisios]

hi..I'm beekeeper from Greece

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Hello from your beekeeping friend in Canada!

[@thanosrevenisios]

@@robwildfieldhoney i have Chanel in youtube

[@robwildfieldhoney]

@@thanosrevenisios I will check it out.

[@michaelhall7921]

Must have a look for your video. We love Creta = Drapanias.... on the sea front. Lambouka on the barbie.... We noticed the honey was very expensive..... might have been because it tasted so good the thyme and the other multitude of herb covered mountains!

[@michaelhall7921]

thanos you might be able to get the honey when it's blazing hot without heating or is it a problem re the Oil seed Rape fi that's what it is...... I have bees that collect IVY in autumn but I put the frames close to a radiator ( 110F ) then it becomes runny. Still sets in the jars though!

[@waynepitts2154]

Totally unnessary to kill the bees, just treat the bees.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

i know.

[@on5b416]

Looks like you are from Canada . The treatment you're showing and using is not legal for use in Canada better be careful......

[@robwildfieldhoney]

This is correct. I've spoken to the bee inspector in my area and he's just happy I'm treating my colonies for mites. I suspect it's only a matter of time that this method gets added to our approved treatment methods. Cheers!

[@michaelhall7921]

@@robwildfieldhoney Looking at the problem through the eyes of an engineer I found it surprising that the strips are more efficient (as Randy says) than fumigation/sublimation....... But Randy says there is no room for wishful thinking re beekeeping as time goes on he sure is right about that as always. I would have thought that fumes are more searching and would be more efficient but that method is not. Ist day counted 30 mites new Nuc = no treatment. I thought something positive needs doing? After fumes @ 4g drop of 80 mites counted after 2 days . A drop of 300 mites a week + 2 days later (2 days after strips put in) 2 strips dangled between frames above brood. I keep an open mind on everything but the experiment in my opinion which mite mean nothing meant something to me. 1300 mites killed in following 2 months. The bees are we think happy as there are now very few mites on them = end of Jan 2023......

[@robwildfieldhoney]

@@michaelhall7921 This is an amazing observation. Great information.

[@michaelhall7921]

@@robwildfieldhoney Thank you for that. I find it surprising that it works better than the fumigation. The close observations is that it most definitely kills more varroa in the same time factor...... I am so frustrated that all who use it with success have not had the method sanctioned as good? All thinking beekeepers whop love their bees have a desire to help them get rid of any parasite...... I hate ticks. I hate Varroa. I hate any parasite living and sucking blood....... I used to shoot and am aware the killer instinct is strong in some individuals. Strong enough to make it happen and even extraordinary successes. An excellent beekeeper near Virginia has found success same as I. Yet a biologist lady says the strips don't work for her. I suggest she may be doing something different to those who are successful with an alternative way of doing 'IT'. Because Oxalic acid has been sprayed directly on bees for yonks and Randy Oliver has stated that it does not affect Honey Supers while the method is used so if the bee police should attack any individual who successfully reduces his/her bees to zero mites or at least levels of infection that the bees can manage they would probably look silly in their attack ? Simply administering the acid in a more effective way with less paraphernalia than the fumes and less operator danger then so be it....... Lets get to killing as many of those critters as we can. Where did the RNAi research get to ?

[@michaelhall7921]

@@robwildfieldhoney It must bee nice to discuss the problem of how to kill as many mites as possible without hurting the bees, especially with a thinking beekeeper and to boot an inspector. He well deserves a jar of honey for his most sensible admin?

[@michaellavazza960]

The fake Cham wow from dollar tree work way better!

[@robwildfieldhoney]

I got these from Amazon. I'm in Canada and don't know if I have a Dollar tree near me. Cheers

[@eddielloyd13]

How did you find this method ?

[@robwildfieldhoney]

Worked very well. I didn't have the time to make a follow-up video. I was travelling. I followed this up with a OAV treatment in the fall to make sure my mite loads were low going into the winter. Thanks for the comment.

[@michaelhall7921]

It's worth looking at all Randy Oliver's experiments on the strip method. He does not claim to be the first researcher either but says the Argentinian doctors of Biology experimented with the 'extended release method' 2013. Seems a lot of thinking beekeepers are finding out that the strips do work but do not know why? A professional beekeeper said it just might be the silver bullet we beekeepers have been hoping for....... No names mentioned! He seems a most delightful chap who does not tell lies. That is a godsend on You tube because not every one is like him or the makers of this great video..... We are so grateful there are good people with expertise who spend a great deal of time making these educational and entertaining videos.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

@@michaelhall7921 I think the strips might work better because they hang in between the frames and the bees are in more contact with it at all times. I'm going to try that as my spring treatment and see how it works.

[@michaelhall7921]

@@robwildfieldhoney I fully agree while I cannot prove a thing I still think a guy such as R O cannot must not be ignored. Let's not all forget the Argentinians have had great success since 2013 with their strips. Sweet success ?