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  • From: Todd Walker <mtwalker AT imageray.net>
  • To: "ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org" <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [ocba] Oxalic acid treatment for varroa
  • Date: Tue, 05 Apr 2016 15:00:27 -0400

Good point, Randall. Yes, please read the label. Even though using oxalic to treat packages is on the label and therefore legal, it just doesn’t seem practical to me. I personally wouldn't risk it after spending $120 on a package. The protocol recommends storing the bees for 72 hours after they have already been in the package for 3 or more days. It sounds like a recipe for trouble. It would be different if the package producer did it before they were shipped. For me, I’d want to get them in the hive as soon as possible, get them established, and then deal with varroa.

~Todd

From: Randall Austin <ra41717 AT gmail.com>
Date: Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at 2:45 PM
To: "ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org" <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Cc: Michael Todd Walker <mtwalker AT imageray.net>
Subject: Re: [ocba] Oxalic acid treatment for varroa

As with any pesticide, apply according to the label. The label is the law. Read the label <here>.

The oxalic acid label specifically tells how to treat packages. As Todd wisely advises, you should do it while the package is still in the package, not after it has been hived.
SPRAYING PACKAGE BEES
Ensure bees are clustered before applying oxalic acid (for example store in cool dark location 24 hours before application).
Spray broodless package bees with a 1:1 sugar:water solution at least 2 hours before spraying with oxalic acid. This allows
bees to fill honey stomachs with sugar water reducing ingestion of oxalic acid.
Mix a 2.8% oxalic acid solution by dissolving 35 g of Oxalic Acid Dihydrate in 1 liter of 1:1 sugar: water (weight:volume).
Evenly apply 3.0 mL of 2.8% oxalic acid solution per 1,000 bees using a pump sprayer or battery powered sprayer (for
example, a typical 2 lb package contains approximately 7,000 bees which requires 21 mL of solution). Apply solution evenly
on both sides of the package.
Store bees in a cool darkened room for 72 hours before hiving.

Randall

On 4/5/2016 2:19 PM, Todd Walker wrote:
Oxalic acid should only be used when the colony is broodless so one would think that it would be perfect to use right after hive a swarm or package (an artificial swarm). It is not. Fumigant treatments (or any treatment for that matter) can be very stressful to the bees. Remember that a swarm or package has no reason to remain in the hive. There is no brood and in some cases no drawn comb. Nothing to make them want to stay. Using a treatment before they have fully accepted their new home could lead to them absconding. Once you hive a package or swarm, leave them alone for two weeks, only disturbing them to quickly check the queen has been released ( in the case of a package) and to feed them.

If you are determined to do something you might consider the Dowda Method of sugar dusting:

~Todd

From: ocba <ocba-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org> on behalf of Nerissa Rivera <nerissa.rivera AT duke.edu>
Date: Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at 1:50 PM
To: "ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org" <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [ocba] Oxalic acid treatment for varroa

I installed 2 packages last Friday and was thinking about treating both with Oxalic acid using a vaporizer.  I understand that the temp should be 61 degrees or less when I do the treatment.  I am hoping that late afternoon tomorrow will give me my window of opportunity temperature wise.  I would wait, but the treatment should be done when there is no brood in the hive.  Am I totally off to do this?  My aim was to start the season with as little varroa as possible.  I would still monitor the mite count as I go along, but hope not to have to treat again until late summer.  Just checking to see if my plan seems reasonable or if this is overkill.

 

 

Thanks for all feedback.

 

Nerissa

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