Mite counts -- the actual formula for 24 hour-period drop

[Cindi]

With all those starting to count mites (have lots of fun doing this), I thought that I would type some data from the handbook that I have entitled, "Formic Acid use Handbook and Manual of Treatments".

There is a very specific formula for accurately determining the exact number of daily mite numbers that I didn't delve into in other posts.  This is not hard to calculate, but I was not clear enough with my instructions in other posts on this specific formula and for that I apologize.

"Sticky boards in the hives for no less than 72 hours (3 days) (these are approximate) and no more than 5 days because there may be too many mites to make it easy to count

Count the mites

Divide the total amount of mites by the number of hours that the boards were in the hives

Multiply this number by 24

This factor will give you the prorated (average) mite drop for a 24-hour period."   This is pretty accurate.

It is a little more intricate than dividing by 3, but definitely more accurate.

More from the formic acid handbook:

Natural drop/24 hours
0-8  --   low    --  treatment in spring 21 days    --  treatment in late summer 21 days
8-15  -- moderate --  treatment in spring 21 days  -- treatment in late summer 40 days
15-30  --  high -- treatment in spring 40 days     --  treatment in last summer 80 days
30+  --  critical  --  treatment in spring 80 days     --  treatment in late summer 80 day
Your natural drop will also tell you how your fall treatment worked in the spring and vice versa

This data that I have given here, it must be remembered, is from a person who believes in the use of formic acid as a treatment (me).  The use of formic acid is not everyone's preferred method of treatment, so one must make informed decisions.  Have a wonderful day, best of our life.  CIndi

[randydrivesabus]

if i remember those basic math rules correctly....dividing by 3 will give the same result. you will still end up with drop per day.

[Moonshae]

if i remember those basic math rules correctly....dividing by 3 will give the same result. you will still end up with drop per day.

They'll be the same only if you take it out exactly 72 hours later. If you're off by a few hours, Cindi's method will be more accurate.

[rdy-b]

HI cindi the data you posted sounds like the info i was told by Billruzicka  :) he is the one that swayed me to use formic he is from up your way.if you get a chance to met him dont pass it up.now a days with the pre measured pads they have taken all the chance for error out and you dont have to wory about the strength of the dose as was the case years ago very helpful data  :) RDY-B 

[DayValleyDahlias]

Rdy do youuse MiteAway II..does it harm the brood?

[rdy-b]

IT dose not harm brood but sometimes queen stops laying for about 5 days. dont use over 80 deg. temp. because of queen mortality rate. under 80 degree  first five days of treatment safe there always seems to be a window the first half of sept. when temps go down hard to believe this week  RDY-B

[Cindi]

RDY-B.  For heaven's sake, what is your name, your ativar name is really hard to type.  Yes, Bill Ruzika is the founder of the Mitegone.com.  I have met him, in Kelowna, about 450 km north east of where I live.  He lives just down the road from my daughter's home, which we visit very often.  I need my oldest daughter fix every so often.

He has mentored me with the Mitegone formic acid pads, it was good to meet him, personally.  A very wonderful gentleman.  He has worked very hard world wide, informing so many areas of this world of ours with the use of formic acid pads, I am sure that he pushes his own version, but also at the same time, condones other formic acid pad promoters.  It works.

Bill operates his farm as, "Bill's Honey House", a very simple place to visit, on a very simple, old-fashioned road, in Kelowna, with lots of love with his passion for the health of the honeybeee. 

He is the owner of the Mitegone.com site that I have told our friends in the forum to look up and check out.  It is good stuff.  Have this wonderful day in the palm of your hands.  Cindi