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Treating the bees with oxalic acid can get rid of the mites. As you know, bee infestation causes significant damage to the apiary. A sick family has a weakened state, their level of productivity decreases, and insects can often die. It is important to understand that the hive is a single whole, which is why if only one individual from the whole family is infected, then the disease quickly spreads to others. If you start to fight the disease after it is discovered, then you can overcome it as soon as possible.
Benefits of using oxalic acid for varroatosis
Oxalic acid is often used to treat bees. Judging by the reviews of beekeepers, this drug has an affordable cost and is highly effective. This powder is used to treat insects if they have mites, most often the drug is purchased to combat varroatosis. You can fight varroatosis with the help of acaricides, as a rule, such drugs are of several groups:
- heavy - chemical reagents such as fluvalinate, amitraz;
- lungs - organic acids, which include formic and oxalic acid. These substances are considered the most gentle, as a result of which they do not harm insects and do not reduce the quality of the finished product.
Oxalic acid - colorless crystals, dibasic carbolic acid, dissolves quickly enough in water. In addition, it is environmentally friendly and has other benefits:
- high processing speed of bee colonies;
- small labor costs;
- the action occurs as quickly as possible.
The processing process is simple, you do not need to disassemble the hives. Ticks begin to fall off after 10-12 days. An important feature is the fact that the effectiveness of the application is equal to 93%.
The benefits and harms of treating bees with oxalic acid
Oxalic acid is a remedy that allows you to get rid of ticks that appear on bees during their vital activity. With prolonged illness, parasites can destroy the entire family. As a rule, not the whole family is infected, but 1-2 individuals, which further spread the disease to the rest.
A large number of drugs can be found on sale, but as practice shows, they are either toxic, as a result of which they adversely affect bees and finished products, which after processing cannot be eaten, or the effectiveness is not so great. With low efficiency, the processing process has to be repeated, but it often happens that the mite gets used to the drug used and does not die.
Oxalic acid is effective, while it does not cause side effects in bees, and the finished product after processing can be eaten on a general basis.
Which way to choose
Powder can be used in several ways:
- prepare an aqueous solution and spray the individuals;
- sublimation - treatment of bee colonies with steam.
Most often, the acid is diluted with water.The popularity of this method is due to the fact that the efficiency level is 93%, while the steam treatment is only 80%.
The manufacturer encloses instructions, which must be studied in detail before starting application and processing and only after that spray the bees. In this case, the powder is dissolved in water.
If the powder is heated, it will turn into steam, which is used to treat the bees from the mite. Since sublimation can be carried out at a temperature of + 10 ° C, this method can be used even in autumn.
Each beekeeper can choose any method that is most convenient for him. For example, if the infection is strong, then it is best to choose a method according to which the powder is dissolved in water, since the effectiveness of this method is much higher. For preventive purposes, steam treatment can be used.
How to treat bees with oxalic acid
The process of processing bees does not take much time and effort, and it does not require special skills, the main thing is to take into account the recommendations, some nuances and prepare the solution according to the attached instructions. All preparatory work before using acid is reduced to removing combs with honey and bee bread from the hives. This is necessary so that the insects in the hive gather in a bunch, which allows the drug to act faster and more efficiently.
Processing time
It is necessary to use oxalic acid in beekeeping carefully and according to the attached instructions. As a rule, it is recommended to process bee colonies about 5 times throughout the active season. If you plan to use an aqueous solution, then the work must be carried out only if the outside temperature is from + 16 ° C and above, it is possible to process bee colonies with steam even at + 10 ° C.
The first processing takes place in the spring, when the mass overflight is completed. If the infection is severe, then the procedure should be repeated after 1-2 weeks.
In the summer, oxalic acid is used to combat ticks 2 times, the treatment interval remains unchanged in all cases. The first time the drug is used after honey has been pumped out of the hives and the next before feeding the individuals with syrup is started. If necessary, autumn processing can be carried out after the bees have emerged from the brood.
Preparation of solutions
The powder used for the treatment of bee colonies must first be diluted with clean water. After all the ingredients are mixed, a 2% solution should be obtained. In the cooking process, it is necessary to take into account some of the nuances:
- take clean water;
- the drug should be on individuals for as long as possible.
To understand if the taken water is suitable, it is necessary to test it. In this case, it is recommended to add a little powder to the liquid, if after a short period of time a precipitate is visible, then such water cannot be used. This is due to the fact that the presence of impurities reduces efficiency and the desired result will not be.
Experienced beekeepers recommend using distilled and bottled water. If necessary, you can use boiled. In any case, the cooking liquid used must be warm - at least + 30 ° C.
To increase the effectiveness, it is recommended to add a small amount of granulated sugar, as a result of which the preparation will stay on the bees for much longer. The cooking process is as follows:
- Take 1 liter of warm water.
- Oxalic acid - 20 g.
- A small amount of granulated sugar.
- Mix everything thoroughly.
Cooking should be done just before application, such a solution cannot be stored for a long time.After 48 hours, the drug becomes unusable.
In addition, oxalic acid and glycerin can be used for processing. It is necessary to mix the components in a container made of wood, plastic or glass. The work algorithm is as follows:
- Take 25 g of oxalic acid, 25 ml of glycerin (this amount is enough to process 1 hive).
- Glycerin is heated in the microwave (it should be hot, but not brought to a boil).
- Glycerin is mixed with powder.
- A waffle towel is moistened in the finished solution.
- Squeeze lightly to get rid of the excess of the absorbed solution.
A waffle towel soaked in a glycerin-based solution is placed on the bottom of the hive. In the process of decomposition of oxalic acid in glycerin, formic acid is formed.
How to treat bees with oxalic acid
To treat insects with oxalic acid, you can use mechanical sprayers or equipment with an electric air pumping system. Many beekeepers use the Rosinka device for processing. It is important to take into account that the spraying process can be carried out only if the temperature outside is at least + 16 ° С, and the weather should also be dry and calm.
Each frame takes about 10-12 ml of the finished product. Oxalic acid is sprayed from a distance of 30-40 cm, while the angle should be 45 degrees. If necessary, you can not remove the frames from the hive, it will be enough to process the streets. In the process of processing, it is worth making sure that the solution gets exactly on the bees.
You do not need to try to get on each individual, in the process of movement they rub against each other, thereby leaving a solution. If oxalic acid is applied and diluted correctly, then after a while it will be on the body of all insects.
After carrying out the work, the frames are covered using plastic wrap for this purpose. Such actions create an atmosphere inside the hive that adversely affects the ticks. It is important to consider the fact that processing can only be done if there is no brood.
How many times do you need to process
It is necessary to treat infected individuals using oxalic acid immediately after the insects' mass flight has come to an end. If the bee colony is affected by the mite badly enough, then after the first treatment, 12 days should pass, after which the procedure is repeated.
In the summer period, an interval of up to 12 days is maintained between treatments. Honey in this case can be consumed without fear.
It should also be borne in mind that in the autumn, the treatment of bees with oxalic acid must be carried out without fail. Many beekeepers note that the drug is much more effective in autumn than in spring.
Security measures
When treating bees with oxalic acid for varroatosis, safety measures must be observed. It is important to take into account that this type of drug, at a high concentration, has a detrimental effect on the skin of the hands. If the processing in spring and summer with the use of a smoke cannon is carried out incorrectly, then there is a possibility of poisoning with toxic vapors. Thus, when starting to treat bee colonies from ticks, it is important to observe safety measures that look like this:
- when working with oxalic acid, it is worth wearing a rubberized apron and high gloves;
- glasses must be put on the eyes, boots on the legs;
- if you plan to use steam, then a respirator is required;
- after the treatment process is completely completed, it is necessary to remove all used protective equipment, wash hands and face thoroughly using soap.
It is recommended to store oxalic acid away from water.This is due to the fact that the crystals will begin to absorb moisture and subsequently turn into stone.
Conclusion
Treatment of bees with oxalic acid is the most popular among beekeepers. This is due to the fact that this drug has an acceptable cost, it is easy to use, no special skills are required, while the effectiveness is much higher than that of other means. This drug can be used for years, since numerous studies have not revealed the resistance of ticks to the effects of oxalic acid.
how to cook and in what concentration is the oxalic acid solution for the smoke gun