first time finding varroa I’ve got some formic pro and now have the right temp conditions to pop it in but it’s going to rain, potentially a lot, in the next few days. Will that change the efficacy of the formic pro at all? The only info I can find says changes in humidity will change how much it off gasses. I think I’m more concerned that there will be so much rain that the bees won’t want to beard, but then will be exposed to too much of the formic pro. would love any advice/reassurance pls!
Personally, I would go ahead. There is some mortality from formic acid (about 10% queen loss), but this is a little less when temps are cooler. You are going to leave it in the hive for a while anyway, so I would just start the treatment now.
An unfortunate welcome to Varroa world, Steph.
What was your mite count? FormicPro works best when used at or close to threshold. If the levels are high, bee mortality rises substantially. We’re getting very high reinfestation rates in NSW varroa land with levels of 30, 50, 100 and more in a wash of 300 bees. It appears that the injury to the bees at these levels allows acid into the wounds which is fatal.
FormicPro is a good choice when conditions are perfect. Full width entrance, full box of bees, within temperature range for at least three days and mite counts at or close to threshold.
Be prepared for levels to rise above threshold soon after treatment is finished. A week or two.
If you have high levels you may have to use one of the synthetic chemicals to knock the level down enough for non-synthetics to work.
Hopefully, AluenCAP will have an emergency permit by spring. It’s a slow release oxalic acid strip with a 42 day treatment period and no record of mites developing resistance.
Mike.
Hi aussiemike, you as the bio-security officer of the NSW Amateur Beekeeping Society might know the answer to my question: is AluenCAP the only company seeking an emergency permit or are there other companies as well (like Varroxsan) trying to get into the country (Australia) and is any work being done on off-label use of home-made OAE like it is the case in NZ?
Hey Georgina,
AluenCAP is the only OA product of its type seeking registration. Registering a product with APVMA is very expensive and time consuming and Australia is a tiny market. Very few companies are prepared to invest so heavily at this stage for the possibility of a return years down the track.
I know the people funding AluenCAP registration. They’re passionate beekeeping Aussies that want us to have an alternative to the synthetic chemicals. Along the path, we will hopefully see an emergency permit by spring for AluenCAP.
Amateur Beekeepers Australia support any new treatment alternatives, but we may never see the full range of options here. I’m on a mission to change our legislation to include a NZ type Own Use Exemption Clause so we can treat our bees with the latest technology without breaking the law.
Mike
Wow, Mike! I am amazed. I have seen 1-3% varroa counts not infrequently, but 10% (30 per 300)? That sounds disastrous. I am glad that you are so deeply into this, and influential in the field, thank you!
Thanks, Dawn.
Eventually things will level out. In the original outbreak area, reinfestation is slowing down. First detection was July 2002, but estimates are that the initial infestation was one to two years prior. As it spreads across the country, we will all experience a few years of heavy infestation and virtually back to back treatments. In the meantime our breeders are working on resistant stock.
I’m using hyperthermia with good results, but I’ll do what I must to help my bees.
Mike
I’ve got some formic pro and now have the right temp conditions to pop it in but it’s going to rain, potentially a lot, in the next few days. Will that change the efficacy of the formic pro at all? The only info I can find says changes in humidity will change how much it off gasses. I think I’m more concerned that there will be so much rain that the bees won’t want to beard, but then will be exposed to too much of the formic pro. would love any advice/reassurance pls!
