REGARDING           RE>Bee Space and Apistan Strips
 
Tim Sterrett wrote:
>I just removed Apistan strips from seven colonies.  In every case, the
tops of the strips were glued (with propolis) to the top bars of the wooden
frames and the strips were glued where they passed down between the top bars.
 But (with one exception out of fourteen strips) the part of the strip
between the faces of the wax combs was clean of wax and propolis.
    Why don't the bees work on the strips between the frames?<
 
Removal of Apistan is an interesting problem.  I, too, notice that the strips
are firmly stuck in place to the top bars with propolis.  Unlike Tim's
experience, however, I noticed that in the upper brood chamber (but never the
lower), where much fall honey had been stored since the strips were put in
place, in the majority of cases the bees had firmly bound the upper third of
the strips to the adjoining comb.  This was often done on both sides of the
strip, making it necessary to slide the hive tool down on both sides also to
loosen it enough for removal.
 
This makes me wonder.  With what we're hearing about fluvalinate getting into
beeswax, now the reason is becoming very obvious to me: it might transfer
directly from burr comb contact with the Apistan strip.
 
Ted Fischer
Dexter, MI, USA