So my experience with this product has taught me that it may be a good option for spring but for me it is not a good option for the fall treatment. My reasons are: #1 you have to remove entrance reducers at a time of year that robbing and wasps are a big issue. I did come up with a metal mess entrance reducer because the robbing was really bad. #2 You can't feed for 20 days at a time year when feeding is very important. #3 The temperature this year in Kamloops BC even at the end of Sept is high, temps of 24-29C, so I am stressed about excess mortality. Also I am wondering about the max temp of 29C for first 3 days of application, is that 29C ambient temp or in the hive temp? I find it confusing and stressful. I will repeat treatment in the spring because most of the issues I'm not happy about wont be a problem in the spring but in the fall I think I will resume with the plastic strips for treating mites.
Has there been a study done to see if the 14 day (2 strips) or 20 day (1 strip ten days apart) treatment is more effective? I am thinking that if both durations are equal, it might be better to use the 20 day because you are only putting one strip in the hive at a time, therefore maybe not so hard on the brood and queen.
@@ChinaChuck I have tried it both ways, and I think that the 14 day treatment with two strips is the most effective on the mites, but the hardest on the bees, brood and queens, especially if the weather is 80 degrees or above, which is normally the case in my area when I need to put the treatments on the hives, which is no later than August 1, or else your hive survival rate goes down with each day after that when the hives are not treated. When using the 14 day treatment, there were no crawlers in the grass after the treatment was over. The 20 day treatment with one strip for 10 days is easier on the colony including queens, but I don't think it reduces the mites as well, because I still see crawlers in the grass after that treatment is over. I don't do mite counts only because I know that my hives always get them in the fall, and if I don't treat, 95% will be dead come spring. The 14 day treatment, 2 strips, is more a knock-out treatment, while the 20 day treatment is a knock-down treatment in my view.
I did a formic pro treatment (2pads) on July 4 for 14 days like the instructions say but now what I am wondering is when can I use the other two pads? 30 days later? 60 days later? My mites are still a little bit higher than I'd like. Thx.
Do not disturb colonies during the treatment period. Barrel feeding is acceptable because it is external and does not interfere with affairs inside the hive.
Nobody has ever said that organic treatment is fluffy little kittens. It just means that the product is a naturally occurring chemical. some of the most hazardous insecticides are organic, think about pyrethrins, derived from Chrysanthemums and highly toxic to bees.
The instruction how to do in this video tells a lot about how organic it. Today is organic word is used for everything. How this can be organic you you need to wear mask and stay up wind? I understood 1 thing I'm no longer buying honey from anywhere. I do not wanna "organic" honey.
I am having a lot of wasps lingering around my hives. I have traps out and the wasps seem to be going for the dying bees that have been booted out of the hinge (?)... wondering if treatment is too much at this time. With the wasps lingering and threatening. Don’t want to doubly stress them out. Any insight I’d appreciate. Thank you!
The store I bought this from told me if I place two strips on top of my second brood chamber it will work just as well for the 14 days instead of placing them between the two brood chambers
Yesterday I was going for the 14 day 2 strips and was shocked by the amount of bees I found dead today and I have no idea if the queen was one of them. I watched this video and followed the directions. Can anyone tell me if this is normal? regardless I panicked and went in and removed 1 of the strips and will now do the 20 days. How many bees does this treatment usual kill? This is my first time using this product and I'm scared for my girls.
@@jesshowe4591 hello Jess. Thanks for the reply. I have used this product many times but this year I was late and have never had to apply it in a dearth. The bottom of the hive has to be fully open for the ventilation of the fumes. I’ve never lost a Queen and some bees do die but that’s normal plus the bearding. After two or three days they behave normally..
@@jqueen1380 Damn. I couldn't find any info on it and needed to treat while the day time temps were in range and put it in without the paper on. Should I pull them out and get new ones or is the damage done? I noticed what looked like a large amount dieing off and any bee who walked on it directly seemed to die. It has already been a couple days.
@@Beeklydan why are beekeepers so lazy and can't be arsed reading the instructions? Is that too much to ask ? Never mind reading the info, I'll just go on you tube for expert advice - while ignoring the advice 3:49. Rusty you are a dunce.
@@mark-ish Some bee keepers state you can remove the paper for a quick shock, some say don't. I found contradicting information, and granted I did put the time into reading the instructions and watching this video, it is not mentioned in the step wise instructions on the package, just elsewhere, and the line you linked was easy to overlook. Granted it is best to follow the manufacturers instructions. I found the product to be garbage anyways. Only reason beekeepers recommend it is due to the fruity organic crowd and the naturalistic fallacy. Apivar has worked much better for me. Kills more mites, kills less bees. That's all I want in the end.
@@mark-ish We run 100 colonies in UK when I first use Formic pro thought it was going to be the answer to the Verroa problem. Treating all the colonies in July with supers on we noticed Verroa on the bees after treatment we had Queen's disappear but the bees made no attempt to requeen very strange. Some hives the Bees poured out the front of the hive and hung outside all night making the brood go cold. Seem to be a noticeable amount of less bees in The Hives after treatment. In September October we had hives dying from Verroa we had to do oxalic treatment to save them. When I told our supplier he gave us the product for the next year free. And said try opening The Hives up more. So we did try it again the next year I only use half what he gave me I burnt the rest very unhappy with this product I wouldn't use this product if it was given out for free. If you treat your Bees in the spring and autumn there should be no need to use a varroa treatment with supers on. There are much better products on the market that don't stress the bees so much.
Hi, I'm from Russian, Urals region, i have 20 bees family's and now around from 25 June to 10 august we have major honey collection time. So my question: i have used gel acid 85% 30 gr. And i need used acid 4 times during one month, for killig varroa. I afraid about quality honey because maybe this acid can accumulated in honey. I dond find some experimental data about it. Thanks before) I have need to search information in international levels i mean non-russian language. What do you think about using in major honey collection time?
You should follow your local authorities recommendations for liquid formic acid use during honey flow. Formic Pro is specially formulated with technologies to allow for use during honey flow that doesn't stay within the wax or honey.
Did you get a reply? ' I'd like to know the answer too. The video says you need ventilation and to remove entrance reducers, but it is silent about the influence of screened bottom boards. It would seem that they would offer plenty of ventilation, perhaps too much, leading to low efficacy, in which case it would make sense to close off the screen with an IPM board.
The FAQ on the product says to close the screened bottom boards during treatment for most effective treatment, and to ensure the full entrance it open (i.e. no reducer in place)
@@ToBeeOrNotToBeHoney my hobbie have of russian bees was wiped out by murder hornets one went into hive rest and got my queen the rest were picked off by the mhs laying in wait out side hive on limes and hive door waste of time for me here in north ga. even stood in frount of hive killing the hornets but queen was gone and none survived bad time all around for me
Treated as prescribed and had a lot of dead bees around the entrance on day two of treatment, really hoping queen was unaffected have to wait 12 more days before digging into the hives to see if they are queen right, really think i'll switch to oxalic acid treatments. Why does it kill bees? Very unhappy and pissed about the die off.
Natural honey bee emergence and mortality rate is approximately 1,500 bees per day. A one-day equivalent of natural mortality (i.e. 1,200 to 1,500 bees or up to 2 cups) may be observed at the hive entrance during the treatment. Treatment may trigger supercedure of fragile queens, regardless of age.
So my experience with this product has taught me that it may be a good option for spring but for me it is not a good option for the fall treatment. My reasons are: #1 you have to remove entrance reducers at a time of year that robbing and wasps are a big issue. I did come up with a metal mess entrance reducer because the robbing was really bad. #2 You can't feed for 20 days at a time year when feeding is very important. #3 The temperature this year in Kamloops BC even at the end of Sept is high, temps of 24-29C, so I am stressed about excess mortality. Also I am wondering about the max temp of 29C for first 3 days of application, is that 29C ambient temp or in the hive temp? I find it confusing and stressful. I will repeat treatment in the spring because most of the issues I'm not happy about wont be a problem in the spring but in the fall I think I will resume with the plastic strips for treating mites.
Has there been a study done to see if the 14 day (2 strips) or 20 day (1 strip ten days apart) treatment is more effective? I am thinking that if both durations are equal, it might be better to use the 20 day because you are only putting one strip in the hive at a time, therefore maybe not so hard on the brood and queen.
That was my choice.
I read up on the product and decided to go with the 20 day option.
Two years after your question: I'm curious how it's working for you?
My local beekeeper recommends going with the two 10 day treatments.
@@ChinaChuck
I have tried it both ways, and I think that the 14 day treatment with two strips is the most effective on the mites, but the hardest on the bees, brood and queens, especially if the weather is 80 degrees or above, which is normally the case in my area when I need to put the treatments on the hives, which is no later than August 1, or else your hive survival rate goes down with each day after that when the hives are not treated. When using the 14 day treatment, there were no crawlers in the grass after the treatment was over. The 20 day treatment with one strip for 10 days is easier on the colony including queens, but I don't think it reduces the mites as well, because I still see crawlers in the grass after that treatment is over. I don't do mite counts only because I know that my hives always get them in the fall, and if I don't treat, 95% will be dead come spring. The 14 day treatment, 2 strips, is more a knock-out treatment, while the 20 day treatment is a knock-down treatment in my view.
Can this be used on days where it goes below 50 during night times? Or is above 50f all day? Tyia.
I did a formic pro treatment (2pads) on July 4 for 14 days like the instructions say but now what I am wondering is when can I use the other two pads? 30 days later? 60 days later? My mites are still a little bit higher than I'd like. Thx.
Around 5:22 it says to allow a month before doing another treatment
@@sambleasdale3571 great! Thanks! Good eye! Appreciate it!
Why is feeding during treatment not recommended?
Do not disturb colonies during the treatment period. Barrel feeding is acceptable because it is external and does not interfere with affairs inside the hive.
This was recommended as organic treatment. The warning labels are frightening and not indicative to organic IMo
Nobody has ever said that organic treatment is fluffy little kittens. It just means that the product is a naturally occurring chemical. some of the most hazardous insecticides are organic, think about pyrethrins, derived from Chrysanthemums and highly toxic to bees.
The instruction how to do in this video tells a lot about how organic it. Today is organic word is used for everything. How this can be organic you you need to wear mask and stay up wind? I understood 1 thing I'm no longer buying honey from anywhere. I do not wanna "organic" honey.
Why does it say on the UK version that honey supers must be removed during treatment???
Great question
You don't have to remove honey supers. It says not to feed during treatment so as not to disturb the hive.
I am having a lot of wasps lingering around my hives. I have traps out and the wasps seem to be going for the dying bees that have been booted out of the hinge (?)... wondering if treatment is too much at this time. With the wasps lingering and threatening. Don’t want to doubly stress them out. Any insight I’d appreciate. Thank you!
The store I bought this from told me if I place two strips on top of my second brood chamber it will work just as well for the 14 days instead of placing them between the two brood chambers
Yesterday I was going for the 14 day 2 strips and was shocked by the amount of bees I found dead today and I have no idea if the queen was one of them. I watched this video and followed the directions. Can anyone tell me if this is normal? regardless I panicked and went in and removed 1 of the strips and will now do the 20 days. How many bees does this treatment usual kill? This is my first time using this product and I'm scared for my girls.
Yep. Bad product. Killed my bees.
I use this product often and have not found it to kill any bees. You may have a different issue.
I use this product often and have not found it to kill any bees. You may have a different issue.
Do NOT take off the paper ???
This product user guide specifically states *do not remove* in red ink.
I live in NH and currently we are in the summer dearth. How do I use these strips and stop robbers as the hive has to be fully open
If you open the Hive up this product doesn't work look for my comment below
@@jesshowe4591 hello Jess. Thanks for the reply. I have used this product many times but this year I was late and have never had to apply it in a dearth. The bottom of the hive has to be fully open for the ventilation of the fumes. I’ve never lost a Queen and some bees do die but that’s normal plus the bearding. After two or three days they behave normally..
For robers you can make a meshed entrance reducers
Dosage for small, medium and large hives (single box, double box and Nucs)?
nodglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/US-FP-PL-007-Draft-1.pdf
@@NODApiaryProducts This page is blank.
@@altaylor293 We have updated our website, here is the updated link: nodglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/US-Product-Label-Package-Leaflet.pdf
@@NODApiaryProductscan you send updated link again?
Do I remove it from the wax paper when I apply the strip?
No. The paper stays on.
@@jqueen1380 Damn. I couldn't find any info on it and needed to treat while the day time temps were in range and put it in without the paper on. Should I pull them out and get new ones or is the damage done? I noticed what looked like a large amount dieing off and any bee who walked on it directly seemed to die. It has already been a couple days.
@@Beeklydan why are beekeepers so lazy and can't be arsed reading the instructions?
Is that too much to ask ? Never mind reading the info, I'll just go on you tube for expert advice - while ignoring the advice 3:49.
Rusty you are a dunce.
@@mark-ish Some bee keepers state you can remove the paper for a quick shock, some say don't. I found contradicting information, and granted I did put the time into reading the instructions and watching this video, it is not mentioned in the step wise instructions on the package, just elsewhere, and the line you linked was easy to overlook. Granted it is best to follow the manufacturers instructions. I found the product to be garbage anyways. Only reason beekeepers recommend it is due to the fruity organic crowd and the naturalistic fallacy. Apivar has worked much better for me. Kills more mites, kills less bees. That's all I want in the end.
Is there a chance that my Queen May be damaged?
Yes there's a high chance your bees and Queen will be damaged
@@jesshowe4591 state your research and credentials for that assertion.
@@mark-ish We run 100 colonies in UK when I first use Formic pro thought it was going to be the answer to the Verroa problem. Treating all the colonies in July with supers on we noticed Verroa on the bees after treatment we had Queen's disappear but the bees made no attempt to requeen very strange. Some hives the Bees poured out the front of the hive and hung outside all night making the brood go cold. Seem to be a noticeable amount of less bees in The Hives after treatment. In September October we had hives dying from Verroa we had to do oxalic treatment to save them. When I told our supplier he gave us the product for the next year free. And said try opening The Hives up more.
So we did try it again the next year I only use half what he gave me I burnt the rest very unhappy with this product I wouldn't use this product if it was given out for free. If you treat your Bees in the spring and autumn there should be no need to use a varroa treatment with supers on. There are much better products on the market that don't stress the bees so much.
@@mark-ishthe company says it can in RUclips comments and their website
Hi, I'm from Russian, Urals region, i have 20 bees family's and now around from 25 June to 10 august we have major honey collection time. So my question: i have used gel acid 85% 30 gr. And i need used acid 4 times during one month, for killig varroa. I afraid about quality honey because maybe this acid can accumulated in honey. I dond find some experimental data about it. Thanks before) I have need to search information in international levels i mean non-russian language. What do you think about using in major honey collection time?
You should follow your local authorities recommendations for liquid formic acid use during honey flow.
Formic Pro is specially formulated with technologies to allow for use during honey flow that doesn't stay within the wax or honey.
screen bottom board ?????
Did you get a reply? '
I'd like to know the answer too. The video says you need ventilation and to remove entrance reducers, but it is silent about the influence of screened bottom boards. It would seem that they would offer plenty of ventilation, perhaps too much, leading to low efficacy, in which case it would make sense to close off the screen with an IPM board.
At the Tom there is a reply regarding treatment with hives that have bottom screens.
@@JoseAntonio-pb7nd i left bottom graft board in on my screened bottom hive and never got an ancer from formic pro
The FAQ on the product says to close the screened bottom boards during treatment for most effective treatment, and to ensure the full entrance it open (i.e. no reducer in place)
@@ToBeeOrNotToBeHoney my hobbie have of russian bees was wiped out by murder hornets one went into hive rest and got my queen the rest were picked off by the mhs laying in wait out side hive on limes and hive door waste of time for me here in north ga. even stood in frount of hive killing the hornets but queen was gone and none survived bad time all around for me
Is a respirator needed?
No respirator required.
Arsenic is organic!
This chemical killed my bees very slowly. Going back to vaporizer.
Did you use 2 strip method? What were weather conditions as that’s what I’m inquiring about today. Sorry about your bees
Treated as prescribed and had a lot of dead bees around the entrance on day two of treatment, really hoping queen was unaffected have to wait 12 more days before digging into the hives to see if they are queen right, really think i'll switch to oxalic acid treatments. Why does it kill bees? Very unhappy and pissed about the die off.
Natural honey bee emergence and mortality rate is approximately 1,500 bees per day. A one-day equivalent of natural mortality (i.e. 1,200 to 1,500 bees or up to 2 cups) may be observed at the hive entrance during the treatment. Treatment may trigger supercedure of fragile queens, regardless of age.
Have done Oxyclic Acid twice as rough on the hive.