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BUCKS COUNTY BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION

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Mite Treatment (2nd application)

  • August 27, 2023 12:15 PM
    Quote
    Message # 13246303
    Anonymous

    Did sugar roll and checked for mites in July, had 2 mites. Did not treat.

    Checked again last week, had 9 mites- treated with oxcalic acid dribble.

    Re-checked today, had 17 mites- treated again with dribble.

    Also, could not find queen, but had plenty of capped honey, brood and pollen cells so I think the hive is healthy.

    Is there a different treatment I should try? Or does it take longer than a week to see the mite count go down?
  • August 28, 2023 9:17 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 13246567 on 13246303
    Kurt (Administrator)

    Peter,

    Oxylic Acid only impacts phoretic mites.  These are the mites attached to bee and roaming the hive - importantly NOT mites that are actively reproducing in the capped brood( under capped brood is where mite spend most of their time) .   Phoretic mites represent only about 10-15% of the total mite population.     Doing an OA treatment when there is brood is not effective UNLESS you treat multiple times in a 3 week period( complete brood cycle effectively). But still understand how OA works and doesn't at times- Ultimately OA treatments are BEST when the hive is broodless.     read this:  https://www.perfectbee.com/blog/a-beekeepers-guide-to-using-oxalic-acid.  There are other options.   You should look into Formic Acid treatment( Formic Pro or Might Away Quick Strips-MAQS) or even Apivar as a more effective summer treatment which treats the brood filled hive more effectively.   I hope this points you in the right direction.   
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