Hi all,
In reading the application instructions for Apistan strips, it says "1 strip for every 5 combs of bees or less in each brood chamber." For 10-frame equipment the math comes out even, but how about if your equipment is 8-frame like mine?
The instructions also direct me to remove honey supers prior to treatment; but my intention is for the honey to be winter food for the bees, rather than for human consumption. Can I therefore assume it's okay to leave the third medium hive body, filled with honey, on while treatment is ongoing?
Sorry if it seems like I'm parsing the instructions, but I want to use the chemical effectively -and responsibly.
Thanks,
Tim
My simple math would say 2 strips !
Let see now;
1 strip for 5 or less frames, ok, you have 8
1 strip for the first 5,
and 1 strip for the remaneing 3 = per your instructions, 1 strip for 5 or less frames
Oh, I have been wrong before.
Rocket Science it ain't.
PCM
Quote from: BeekeeperInKingGeorgeVA on September 24, 2009, 10:32:17 PM
The instructions also direct me to remove honey supers prior to treatment; but my intention is for the honey to be winter food for the bees, rather than for human consumption. Can I therefore assume it's okay to leave the third medium hive body, filled with honey, on while treatment is ongoing?
I wouldn't assume that. Wax is like a sponge and studies have shown that it readily absorbs fluvalinate (the primary chemical in Apistan). If it were me, I'd take the honey super off.
Actually, if it were me, I wouldn't use fluvalinate (Apistan) or coumaphos (Check-Mite). Nasty stuff.
You are going to have some honey on the brood frames that the bees are going to eat also, so why not just leave the super on.
Medicate when needed, if you so desire.
Best to take info. on inter-net forums with a grain or two of salt.
Bee-Bop
Tim,
This was a problem I saw for years when inspecting. I would imagine that 90% of all the beekeepers I asked "So how many strips are you using?"...the answer would be 2.
At a time when most beekeepers have taken off supers, compressed the hives down to winter configuration, most hives have a good number of bees. My own boxes, IF I was to treat, would need at least 4 strips. It calls for 1 strip per 5 frames of bees in the brood chamber. It does not say for every 5 frames of brood.
Inadequate amounts to do the job, combined with beekeepers leaving the strips in all winter, both played into resistance.
If I was leaving on the extra super, then I would just consider that a brood box, and use it to split out another hive in the spring.
Bottom line is this....If you need a third super left on for wintering wherever you may be, then it really is not called a super. It's called a brood box. If you need two, or if you need three, whatever you need for overwintering, really defines what is or is not a brood box.
I don't think that calling two boxes your brood chamber, but needing a third to get through winter, and still calling the third box a super, fits what it really is. Whether you admit it or not, you have a three box brood chamber.
I am not a fan of strip treatments. But I applaud your sincere questions on the matter. I think helping beekeepers do whatever they do "correctly", outweighs any personal preferences or debate on what is right or wrong.