Would it be worthwhile to spray a little oxalic on package bees before hiving them? It would seem ideal time with no brood or comb for varroa to hide in.
Finski,care to comment?
Sounds like a great idea! but I think Veroa will find its way back in no time!
You could hive them and then treat -It just dosent seam like a good idea to treat with the queen confined in her cage without the colony to tend to her needs -no telling what could go wrong-RDY-B
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The best way is to dribble the cluster .
Spraying each comb side with bees is also possible. You use 3% solution.
If the bees' weight is 3 lbs, (1,5 kg) it is about half dosage of winter cluster in one box = 20 ml oxalic syrup over the bees.
And if you get a swarm, same way dribbling.
If a Langstroth box is full of bees, it is 2 kg bees. It needs 30-40 ml OA syrup.
If swarm occupies 2 langstroth boxes, use 50 ml syrup.
Most packages are already treated for varroa and besides, the break in brood is usually enough to eliminate any varroa issues the first year anyway. I wouldn't recommend doing it.
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I suppose that treatment has done before selling.
It is easy to gazify with thymol or formic acid and then tracheal mites too. .