Tom & others.
Herewith the results of my OBSERVATIONS! on my use of Apiguard on six colonies, 5 Modified Commercial 16"x10"--Nos.1 to 5, No.6 --B.S.National 14"X 8" combs.Single brood chambers. Started on 21/8/99 after the honey had been taken.
                  No1.       No2.        No3.         No4.         No5.         No6.
21/8/99         2             1             4             0              2              0   Natural mite
                                                                                                    fall 1 week
                                                                                                    1stApiguard in
4/9/99   2nd Apiguard in as per instructions.
Total No. of mites counted weekly from 21/8/99  to 3/10/99
                 654          132          318          71             356           53
On the 3/10/99 when the empty Apiguard trays were removed two Apistan strips were inserted.The colonies were also fed sugar syrup at this time as feeding before or during Apiguard use reduces it's effectiveness(Communication with Max Watkins,Vita Europe)
Total No. of mites counted on three occasions from 3/10/99 to 13/11/99
                 325           62              2            7               17           12

Total No. of mites since 21/8/99
                 979          194          320          78             373            65
It seems that Apiguard  needs temperatures above 15deg.C I did not record Temps. but we have had the warmest and sunniest autumn since 1956
If this comes over as "gobledegook" e-mail me and I will send the whole document attached.
Andy Johnston.
"Bedfordshire" Southeast England.
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