formic acid

[guyone]

What is the strenght  in percentage, in formic acid used in the mite away product?

[Trot]

65% Formic acid. . . .

Regards,
Trot

[Trot]

Perhaps this could be of interest to some..?
Besides those on my PM...

Regards,
Trot


http://www.miteaway.com/

[Cindi]

Perhaps this could be of interest to some..?
Besides those on my PM...

Regards,
Trot
http://www.miteaway.com/

Don't get what you mean, "besides those on my PM".  From my understanding, formic acid is standard 65%, if the percentage is stronger, it could be detrimental to hive and cause death.  It is almost 100% safe at this dosage of 65%.  Great day.  Cindi

[Trot]

Perhaps this could be of interest to some..?
Besides those on my PM...

Regards,
Trot
http://www.miteaway.com/

Don't get what you mean, "besides those on my PM".  From my understanding, formic acid is standard 65%, if the percentage is stronger, it could be detrimental to hive and cause death.  It is almost 100% safe at this dosage of 65%.  Great day.  Cindi

Yes, in Canada is - but in other countries is not. As in some countries is not approved period...
In some places in Europe, formic is used in various concentrations and applications.  Some want to know if it contains some other additives...

"Those on my PM???"  =  People that contacted me on my Personal - Private Mail...  So, after I contacted some on their PM - I thought to save myself some time and post it here...

Hope this clears it up a bit for you Cindi?   Maybe not..? .  .  .  .

Regards,
Trot

[Cindi]

Trot, understood, thank you.  Have an awesome celebration.  Great day.  Cindi

[Trot]

Thank you Cindi!
May yours be at lest 2X as awesome as mine. . . . ;) :)

Regards,
Trot

[limyw]

60-70% is ok. Higher may cause queen death. Check label properly as the percentage should be indicated. Frequent use of fromic acid cause inecfectiveness to kill mite too. Use it during hot wheather.

[Cindi]

I'm pretty sure that the whole idea behind the formic acid treatment is that the acid fume are heavier than air, it sinks to the bottom of the hive, the bees are irritated by the smell and fan like crazy to get rid of it.  Little do they know that they are making the acid do what is needed to kill mites.  The fumes are fanned all through the hives and it kills mites.  If the weather is colder, the fumes are not released from the pads and bees don't fan,then the treatment simply stays on hold until the bees begin to fan again when the fumes are released.

So, rightly so, the application is performed when weather is warm enough for bees not to be in cold weather cluster.  We were taught to leave the pads in the hives after the fall treatment, then remove them in spring at least 45 days before the honeyflow begins in earnest.  There is much information on the internet.

Agreed, it is important the concentration be not much over 65%, yes.  This can cause mortality to the queen (and bees too).  Below that, the 65%, is completely safe.

One site in particular that I will give is a Canadian site.  The developer of this "mitegone" travels worldwide to teach the principles of formic acid and the power that it holds, combatting several bee disease issues.  He is currently in South America teaching.  I had the privilege of meeting with the professor personally at his honey farm in Kelowna last summer and he gave much instruction to me, I felt very honoured that he would take the time for such a little beekeeper as I.  His site follows:

http://www.mitegone.com/


Have an awesome day.  Cindi

[limyw]

Yes you are right, Cindi. Fume derived from Formic acid kills mites. But just to remind you again my experience told me repeating of using it causes mites seem to "imuned" to the fume... Someone did said "there is no single best treatment to solve mite problem". I totally agreed with him.

[BEE C]

Cindi,
I just read your post on formic acid and the link to farm status classification.  We just received our rejection letter for farm status, so I was interested in the farm status case studies on the website you linked to.  Amazing how little support for beekeepers that there is considering how much they do for agriculture...steve

[Brian D. Bray]

The best solution to the mite problem is to let nature take its course and let the bees develop methods of dealing with the mites to the point of a co-existance such as with apis cerena.  Using chemicals hinders this process.  If the compound does not occur narturally in nature we shouldn't be using it to ward off the mites until the bees develop the resistance and hygenic behavior necessary to co-exist.

[Cindi]

Cindi,
I just read your post on formic acid and the link to farm status classification.  We just received our rejection letter for farm status, so I was interested in the farm status case studies on the website you linked to.  Amazing how little support for beekeepers that there is considering how much they do for agriculture...steve

Steve, you and I need to talk.  We have farm status and it is my understanding that keeping bees and in turn selling the bee product comes under the classification of farm status in yours and my area.  I want to know why they would decline you, what you were intending on doing with your property to classify.  I have farm status because when I ran the nursery, I could prove to the government that I could make $_______ worth of produce from my land.  I no longer run the nursery, but sell produce in minimal amounts, still meeting the designated amount of sales.  Correspond in a personal mail to me.  Great day.  Cindi