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.
@@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! :)
@@melasmontanayogahomestead7818 It's not a big deal. The bees prop the boxes together, you gotta crack them apart. Bees live in all sorts of places, walls, attics, dead trees. . . they aren't gonna care if a corner get rounded out.
@@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.
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'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.
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.
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.
@@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.
