OAV In August

Ben Framed · August 10, 2020, 09:14:14 PM

For those of you who treat with OAV in August I have a question. During this time of year many hives are bearding. How do you treat during theses circumstances?

.30WCF · August 10, 2020, 09:37:24 PM

I?ve not, but plan to start treatments this week. Early morning or late evening would be my guess.

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Ben Framed · August 10, 2020, 10:25:44 PM

Thanks 30, I will rephrase the question. For those of you who live in the hotter climates, which have bees that beard even late in the evenings and early mornings, in August, using OAV as you August mite treatment, what is your strategy?

beesonhay465 · August 11, 2020, 10:04:44 AM

i use the blue shop towels with ox and glycerine .the bees outside will be exposed to the treatment during the time it takes for the towel to be chewed up and removed. about 1 month. i treat aug sept and oct .

van from Arkansas · August 11, 2020, 11:16:13 AM

Mr. Ben, another good question, as the norm.

I just treated a few days ago, the bees were bearded as normal this time of year. I plug the entrance with precut soft styrofoam that is precut to fit. With an entrance full of bees, I gently place the styrofoam and seal the entrance. The bees don?t seem to mind as nobody gets crushed because as stated the styrofoam is very soft. Now the entrance is sealed, Then I drill a 1/4 inch hole in the back of the hive and treat with provap 110 with 1 gram of OAV per deep. I remove the styrofoam in about 3-5 minutes and the bees are immediately back to normal.

van from Arkansas · August 11, 2020, 02:12:38 PM

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Precut styrofoam, with queen cage for size reference. One foam, top one, is angled for side view. They fit and seal the entrance for OAV treatment.

Ben Framed · August 11, 2020, 02:39:27 PM

Quote from: van from Arkansas on August 11, 2020, 11:16:13 AM
Mr. Ben, another good question, as the norm.

I just treated a few days ago, the bees were bearded as normal this time of year. I plug the entrance with precut soft styrofoam that is precut to fit. With an entrance full of bees, I gently place the styrofoam and seal the entrance. The bees don?t seem to mind as nobody gets crushed because as stated the styrofoam is very soft. Now the entrance is sealed, Then I drill a 1/4 inch hole in the back of the hive and treat with provap 110 with 1 gram of OAV per deep. I remove the styrofoam in about 3-5 minutes and the bees are immediately back to normal.

Good information Mr Van. Also thanks for the picture in your last post. Good stuff!

Ben Framed · August 11, 2020, 02:41:27 PM

I have an old couch cushion foam that should be perfect for fitting.

van from Arkansas · August 11, 2020, 03:22:02 PM

Yes Sir, old couch cushions is perfect. Easy to cut, easy to obtain, easy to insert the foam into the entrance. Piece of cake, I tell ya. My bees tolerate the foam blocking the entrance. They just fly around entrance confused but not defensive. Then, a few minutes, the foam is removed and all appears normal after treatment, as stated.

.30WCF · August 12, 2020, 01:00:27 PM

Would a gentle rain shower from a sprayer or sprinkler run them back in long enough to plug the entrance?

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Ben Framed · August 13, 2020, 01:31:46 AM

Quote from: .30WCF on August 12, 2020, 01:00:27 PM
Would a gentle rain shower from a sprayer or sprinkler run them back in long enough to plug the entrance?

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Thanks for the suggestion, I did not try that, I used a smoker, foam, and towels to get things lined up. Had a good day treating the bees. 😬

Blessings

rast · August 15, 2020, 08:46:48 AM

Bearding bees are usually your older forager bees and my primary targets are the nurse and just hatched bees in the box. These are the same bees we use for mite checks with alcohol or sugar. Using a gun from the rear of the hive I no longer try to block the entrance and mite test remain the same.