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An ant for bees, the instruction to which does not promise difficulties in application, always gives a positive result. This is a drug that beekeepers cannot do without. It is transparent, has a pungent odor and is used as a disinfectant for bees. Formic acid is found in large quantities in nettles, in ants and in apiproducts.
The use of formic acid in beekeeping
In the last century, beekeepers, to help bee colonies weakened by parasites, began to use industrial citric acid to combat pests. The effect of the drug on varroa mites is quite powerful, but harmless to bees and humans.
In beekeeping, formic acid is used for preventive purposes. She is able to prevent tick damage, varroatosis. The chemical, when interacting with air, decomposes into water and carbon dioxide, while it does not come into contact with honey. The product also has no negative effect on the environment.
Vapors of formic acid are used in the following cases:
- fight against acarapidosis, varroatosis of bees;
- prevention of the development of foulbrood, ascospherosis, nosematosis;
- cleaning honeycombs from wax moth.
How does formic acid affect ticks?
Formic acid has a detrimental effect on the tick. Vapors of the drug begin to activate at an air temperature of more than 10 oC. One week before honey harvest, treatment is stopped.
The product is endowed with bactericidal and antibacterial properties. Adhering to the treatment scheme, and this is spring and summer, it is possible to achieve a significant reduction in infections with ascospherosis.
Ant preparation
An ant for bees is used in case of mite infestation and for prophylaxis - at a time throughout the apiary. They begin to carry out processing usually in the spring, the second - after the last pumping of marketable honey.
Composition, release form
A substance for saving bees from mites, includes formic acid at a concentration of 85% and a gel former. Visually, the product is completely colorless. You can buy in the pharmacy non-woven acid-permeable bags of 30 g. The prepackaged preparation is sold in cans made of polymer material. Each container contains 4 bags.
Pharmacological properties
The product mainly consists of formic acid. Its action is acaricidal and is directed against the adult parasites Varroa jacobsoni and Acarapis woodi. "Muravyinka" has a second hazard class. According to GOST 12. 1. 007-76, the effect of the drug is locally irritating. It acts aggressively on the skin and mucous tissues. Formic acid has a powerful inhalation, toxic effect, but is not poisonous to bees.
The action of the acaricidal drug on the tick is nerve-paralytic. After activation of the substance, a pest of adult parasites is almost immediately noticed.When manipulating the hive, the beekeeper must observe safety measures.
Instructions for use of the drug Muravyinka
The instructions for use of Ant for Bees indicate that:
- the drug is used for medicinal purposes, when bees are affected by ticks;
- after the substance from the bags has evaporated, empty packages should be disposed of;
- working with the product requires caution.
The first thing to do after buying Ant is to read the recommendations, contraindications, storage and operation rules.
Dosage, application rules
Work with the Ant with a tick is carried out immediately throughout the apiary. Usually, spring prophylaxis is done after the first inspection of the hives that have survived the winter. The second time, measures to prevent the development of parasites are carried out after the last pumping of honey - in the fall.
If the disease progresses, the treatment of bee colonies is carried out twice, with an interval of a week. The packages are laid out in the hives. One package must be allocated for each family. To do this, they violate the tightness of the can and lay out the packages with the composition on the upper bars of the frames with honeycombs.
All events are held at temperatures from 10 to 25 ° C.
Side effects, contraindications, restrictions on use
The form of the drug recommended for beekeepers for processing the apiary does not negatively affect the vital activity and activity of bees, but there are some contraindications to the use of Ant:
- It is unacceptable to carry out processing at inappropriate temperature recommendations.
- If there is no air circulation in the hive, the pest control will have to be abandoned until the problem is eliminated.
- If the dosage is violated, the bees notice a nervous overexcitation, the swarming of insects on the hives begins, as a result, their death is quite possible, including the queen.
- Treatments for the purpose of treatment are not carried out in bad weather. All manipulations should also be performed in daylight.
The container with the medicine should be unsealed immediately before use. When Ant comes into contact with honey, the product is not rejected, since acid in this case does not pose a danger.
Shelf life and storage conditions
If the drug is not planned to be used immediately after purchase, it should be stored in the manufacturer's original packaging, in a place free from excessive moisture.
Treating bees with formic acid from mites
In beekeeping, formic acid treatment is an important measure that helps to save bees from death. It has a powerful effect on the tick, but in order for the result to be complete, the following algorithm of actions must be performed:
- cardboard plates (5 mm) with dimensions of 150 by 250 mm are folded into bags and the medicine (200 ml) is added;
- the cardboard must be thoroughly soaked;
- so that the substance does not evaporate, the bag should be hermetically sealed;
- immediately before placing the packages in the hives, two or three holes are made on each of them;
- the packages are placed on the frames, on top of the bee nests, with the cuts down;
- for greater effect, a pair of wooden slats are placed on the bottom of the house;
- before processing, remove the cover and mat from the hive;
- after completing all the actions, all the bees must be fumigated with smoke so that they do not attack during the layout of the medicinal substance.
Formic acid is unsafe for humans, therefore, during processing it is worth worrying about your own safety.
When to process
Prevention with formic acid in the fall is usually carried out in September, but one should be guided by the weather conditions. The best temperature regime for manipulation - +15 oC. At lower temperatures, any treatments are ineffective.
How to prepare the solution
To prepare a home remedy for bees with the active substance formic acid, you will need the following ingredients:
- household plastic bags - 20x30;
- cardboard strips - 15x25;
- formic acid - 150 - 200 ml.
After the acid is completely absorbed by the cardboard, the bags are hermetically sealed. Before laying in the hive, holes are made in them. The package is placed on wooden slats, holes down. Making an ant for processing bees at home is not difficult.
How to treat bees in autumn with formic acid
Treatment of bees with formic acid is a salvation from troubles.
Autumn processing is usually done in one of several ways:
- Some beekeepers pour the substance into vials and put wicks in them. Such designs are hung in bee nests.Important! This method is dangerous and can provoke the death of the swarm.
- The second option involves filling plastic caps with acid. They are placed under the roof.Important! The acid in the lids should not stay in the hive for more than 4 days.
- The safest non-causing method is Ant. The product has been developed taking into account all the needs of beekeepers.
Conclusion
An ant for bees, the instructions for which are written taking into account all the nuances of the properties of the substance, is a good help in beekeeping. It is actively used by beekeepers for the prevention and treatment of bees. Formic acid has undergone a number of clinical studies and is safe and in demand in beekeeping and medicine.
