Mite control

[SkipS]

Has anyone used HopGuardII for mite control?  What are your thoughts?

[GSF]

I've never used it.

[BeeMaster2]

Never used it or anything else.
I did buy mite away II. Tested it in an empty hive and the acid ate holes in my screen bottom board.
I have a whole container that I will give, free,  to anyone who wants to come get it. You can only use it down here when the temps drop below 80 degrees.
Jim

[10framer]

all i use are brood breaks.  

[SkipS]

I have researched both MAQS and HopGuard. Am leaning toward the HopGuard.  The formic acid in the Mite Away has me a little leery especially when you have supers on.  They say it is safe, but still hesitant in trying it.

[GSF]

Skip, 10framer has a good point with the brood breaks. Read up on the life cycle of the mites. If you can break the cycle you can severely set them back. I also have an o.a. vaporizer just in case.

[rober]

I tried mite away once & it killed 3 out 4 queens in the treated hives. I have also used apiguard with better results but I used 1/2 doses & only in heavily infested hives. brood breaks & drone comb are a lot safer.

[SkipS]

I did a sugar roll on my 2 smallest hives today.  Had a count of 6 & 7.

[GSF]

Skip, are these first year hives? If so the count will usually be low to start with.

[SkipS]

First year in my care. Got them from a good friend who is a commercial beek