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Subject:
From:
Bill Ruzicka <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 15 Jul 2005 18:56:33 -0400
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Below is a very exciting abstract of research that has been done in the
Canary Islands with formic acid.  You can access the entire paper through
the following link:

http://www.mitegone.com/forms/Fleitas%20Rodriguez%20Corbera%20Research.pdf

I think the most interesting finding of this research is that with
substances like formic acid being used to treat the Varroa, judging the
treatment by doing tests immediately before, during, and after the
treatment may not be the best way to evaluate the efficacy of such a
treatment.  Measuring the levels of mites before the treatment in the fall
and in the spring may be the better way.

In the Canary Islands’ tests, the immediate application drops showed
relatively low multiples; almost suggesting a low efficacy of treatment.
However, hives with high mite populations in the fall, (drops of hundreds)
were found in the spring with drops of only a few mites reaching a 90-95%
reduction of the mite population since the fall treatment.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SCIENTIFIC ASSAYS ABOUT MITEGONE METHOD TM (Varroa destructor ORGANIC
TREATMENT). GRAN CANARIA ISLAND. SPAIN.

By: Fleitas, J.L. *; Rodriguez, A.B.; De la Fe, C; Corbera, A.S. .
Author Address:   JUAN LUIS FLEITAS RAMÓN. VETERINARIO. TFNO: +34 687 311
429. E-MAIL: [log in to unmask]

ABSTRACT:

Varroa destructor is the most serious sanitary problem of the professional
apian world.  Varroa destructor has built up resistance to traditional
chemical pesticides.  This resistance has created a very dangerous
situation; beekeepers are now seeking alternative organic and natural
substance solutions to these problems.  Natural substance treatments have
several advantages as they are less costly, do not leave residues in
hives, which is ideal for organic honey production, and do not build
resistance in Varroa; however, these treatments have several problems:
they are often more complicated in application and have a much lower
efficacy than chemical pesticides.

MiteGone is an application method that uses formic acid, an organic
treatment that was designed by Bill Ruzicka of Mitegone Enterprises Inc.,
in Canada.

The scientific research that follows examines this method in an apiary of
Gran Canaria (Canary Islands) that has severe Varroa destructor infection
and very bad sanitary status (PMS, chalk brood, and deformed wing virus).
We have done Natural drop and MiteGone drop (after treatment) of Varroa to
identify the infection level of the apiary and the evolution of this level
after the application of the Mitegone treatment.

Our results show that if the MiteGone method is used following the maker’s
instructions and the MiteGone dose tables for Spain (designed by H&T SL
Enterprises), this type of treatment can achieve very high efficacy
against Varroa infection (between 90-100%) and greatly improve the
sanitary status for the apiary.  In our research, after the Mitegone
treatment, the putrid brood and chalk brood signs disappeared.  Also the
colonies increased in strength.

Our conclusions show that the MiteGone method is an easy application
method for formic acid.  The treatment is less expensive than chemical
pesticides, has high efficacy levels, and helps to improve the general
sanitary status of the colonies and the apiary; therefore, using the
MiteGone applicator and formic acid is a serious alternative treatment for
Varroa control.  Chemical pesticides cannot do all of this; they can only
kill the mite.

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