How to Use Formic Pro to Fight Varroa Mites in Honey Bees
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 26 фев 2023
- Formic Pro is a great choice to control varroa mites in honey bee colonies if the average daily temperature in your area is 50 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Formic Pro is the only miticide on the market that kills varroa where the mites breed: under the brood cappings. It can be used while your honey supers are on.
Products featured in this video:
Formic Pro (2 dose): www.betterbee.com/pest-manage...
Formic Pro (10 dose): www.betterbee.com/pest-manage...
Formic Pro (30 dose): www.betterbee.com/pest-manage... 
Животные
I am in northern Michigan and have experienced massive bee die off, death of queen and hives obsconding using two Formic Acid strips at a time (no 85 degree days during treatment period). This year I am using one strip for 10 days followed by one strip for another 10 days. So far no bee die off and no absconding. The end of the 20 day treatment period ends this Sunday, and I will be checking for queens, brood, eggs and mites. If mites are still present I will treat with oxalic acid vapor. I will NEVER use two strips of Formic pro at one time EVER again.
How did it work? Did you do a mite count after the two treatments?
Holy moly! @1:14 using the hive tool this way is how you damage the corners of your hive boxes...
For real
Thats the point I stoped the video, cringe.
How do you use it correctly? I'm a newbie.
@@melasmontanayogahomestead7818 You do not want to damage the corners with a repeated up-down movement with just the tip of the tool. That is just plain wrong.
Just insert the tool horizontally until the boxes separate, with a slight pressure making leverage, and using the other hand to lift.
If really sticky: go a second, third, or even fourth corner if needed. Best is to watch pro's like Michael Palmer, Randy Oliver work and see how they doit it.
Do not use the scraping (short) part to pry open boxes, I saw you tried :)
Do not put your bees directly on the ground. Use your cover: put it on the ground, upside down, then use it as a base for all other boxes. Staple on it criss-crossed. No contact with ground (critters/other bacteria, smashing bees) is better. Do not move a frame that might have the queen away from the hive (for filming). She is heavier and can fall to the ground.
Where I am at, we go through 2 years of education/mentoring before going solo. My advice: get a mentor or get in a Club nearby. Good luck! :)
Thank you for the information.
Never use it between two brood chambers but only on top of the second brood chamber!
Why is that?
@@Keith-xc9wf Too strong - kills a lot of brood (and often the queen) if applied between two brood chambers. If you beekeep with two brood chambers put both stripes on top, if you beekeep with just one brood chambers, only apply one stripe and then not directly above the brood.
@@MrMielten I actually have three deeps and put the 2 pads on top of second deep...no issues..used many times 😁
V good
You’re sure it’s okay to leave supers on?
I noticed your inner covers are on upside down. Did you do that on purpose to add more ventilation during the treatment.? Or do you always have them on upside down? Just curious.
can you help me i am a new beekeeper and im very desperate, i tried yesterday this treatment an today i see 200 Bee dead or caroling on the ground , the temperature is right here in Ohio i don’t know what to do
I wish there were something better out there for us to use for mites. I’ve heard too many horror stories about Formica pro to ever consider using it. But thanks for the video anyway.
What kinds of stories?
@@wholesystems with formic pro? I hear of hive deaths, hive absconds and queen deaths all the time.
@@bradgoliphant yes, ok thanks for sharing. I have used it about 6 times and haven't had that happen, yet anyway, Do you know where that is common?
@@wholesystems no. It could happen anytime. If it gets too hot or cold in the hive generally. Or too much.
I’ve never used anything other than OAV
I heard about it too. I decided to treat with formic pro this year bc people in my bee club do it. But I’m using one strip bc it’s so powerful.
I'm looking for an alternative to Apivar Strips and Formic Pro was on my shopping list, however I am concerned with Queen mortality. Have you experienced any Queen losses in the course of treatments? Thank you.
Hi there! We've found that, as long as you are sticking to the temperature requirements (average daily temperatures between 55-85 degrees F), we do not experience queen mortality with Formic Pro. The only times we have seen increased mortality is when we began treatment on days around 85 degrees F. The first 3 days of treatment are the most integral (that's when the highest concentration of formic acid is released into the hive), so if it's at the upper limit of the temp threshold outside for those 3 days, we recommend holding off until it cools down in your area. Better to be safe than sorry!
@betterbee1979 Hi there, thank you for the information, I am going to use Formic Pro and leave Apivar and maybe have a higher efficacy. I believe that the mites have shown resistance to Apivar.
When we tack off this twel of the acid formic
What? 😂
I lost my hives soon after I used this last fall. I'm not a fan
You should not use formic acid with supers are on. The acid WILL absorb into the honey. You must ware appreciate respirator. Just saying do not breathe the fumes is a bit unachievable.
It can be used with honey supers. Formic acid is organic, all natural. Heck even honey has some level of formic acid in it
@@jerryg4534 Just stating what is in the manufactures instructions say - brood boxes only. I have also tested honey from hives that have formic acid treatment and the ppm of formic acid exceeded the EUs concentration limit. Yes there is a small amount natural formic acid in the honey but unless you are testing you do not know how much you are adding and if the product is considered safe. Once the formic acid is in the honey it will not dissipate over time. Used properly this is a good product but also consider oxalic acid. Some have found oxalic acid and glycerin more affective and easier to use.
@@markkeown9532 Going to speak with Tom from NOD in a week or so, I’ll ask him this.
@@markkeown9532 NOD also says you can use it with the supers on