> Below is the wording of the approved label for use of formic acid for > bee mites in Canada. This label addresses the specific requirements of > Canadian pesticide registration laws. To me it seems over-precationary > in places, but that's the major orientation of these labels. > After 2 years of experience with it, 2 situations have emerged > that may warrant added precaution: > One is to NOT apply formic acid while it has been heated by sitting in > the sun. The resulting shock treatment to colonies, from the faster > evaporation of the warmed, volatile acid, is currently the best > explanation I can give, for the rare cases of up to 30 % of colonies in > one yard, either behaving as if they don't have a queen for a few days, > or actually killing the queen. > The second would be a precaution to avoid applying the acid directly to > bees sitting on the bottom board. Occasionally a beekeeper has removed > supers, squeezing the bees into 1 1/2 or 2 brood boxes, then treated (as > directed) on the bottom board, not noticing that the board was covered > by bees an inch or so back of the entrance. A few thousand bees can be > killed this way, and I would expect the treatment would be less > effective, since the wetted bees stagger out the entrance, reducing the > amount acting on mites. > The label addresses the above situations as "slightly increased bee > mortality or queen rejection, especially at temperature above 30 oC", > but in practice it has been almost always unnoticeably small, with a few > reports of queen losses, up to 30 %, or the fall bee drenchings. I > advise beekeepers to try out their chosen detailed method, on a few > colonies rather than committing their whole operation. That in itself > would have avoided most of the problems. > You'll have to use some imagination with this label, since the > formatting and fonts etc are altered. > > The label also does not specify the prolonged or continuous-release > methods that are in development, to reduce labour and avoid the hive > shock problems. > > > Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist > B.C. Ministry of Agriculture > 1201 103 Ave > Dawson Creek B.C. > V1G 4J2 CANADA Tel (604) 784-2225 fax (604) 784-2299 > INTERNET [log in to unmask] > > > > > FORMIC ACID > For treatment of honey bees infested with Varroa or tracheal mites > For detection of Varroa mites in honey bee colonies > > COMMERCIAL > > DANGER - CORROSIVE TO SKIN AND EYES > > (Symbol: Octagon with skeleton-hand in beaker) > Scheduled under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act > > READ THE LABEL BEFORE USING > > KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN > GUARANTEE: Formic Acid: 65% (in water) > ...Supplier's postal address ... > NET CONTENTS:________ > > Precautions: > KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. > Corrosive to eyes and skin by direct contact or by exposure to vapors. > Harmful or fatal if swallowed. Potential skin sensitizer. Do not get in > eyes or on skin or clothing. Do not breathe vapors. Wear goggles or face > shield, chemically-resistant gloves, apron and boots when handling > liquid formic acid. Work outdoors, and always stand upwind of the use > location. If a strong vinegar odor is encountered, area should be > evacuated until the vapors have dissipated. When applying, do not eat, > drink or smoke. Wash skin thoroughly with soap and water after > handling. Remove contaminated clothing immediately if contaminated by > splash or spill. Store and wash contaminated clothing separately from > household laundry. To prevent accidental exposure, post appropriate > signs to prevent opening of treated hives within 24 hours of > application. Do not contaminate water supply, ponds, lakes or streams > with this product. Formic acid will disturb colony activities and may, > within one day of application, result in queen rejection or a slight > increase in bee mortality, especially at temperatures above 30oC. > > Time of Application: Do not use when honey supers are in place, to > prevent contamination of marketable honey or wax by unwanted residues. > Use when outside temperatures are 10oC to 30oC and leave hive entrances > fully open. In spring, treatment must be discontinued at least 2 weeks > before the anticipated honey flow. Treatment may be applied in fall > after the honey crop has been removed. > Directions for Use: > > For two-story colonies (bees covering 8 to 20 full-size Langstroth > frames or equivalent): > For control of tracheal mites: Apply 30 to 40 ml of 65 % formic acid > onto the bottom board or onto absorbent paper (three 15 cm square > napkins or paper towels) placed on the bottom board or on the hive > top-bars. Re-apply at 5 to 7 day intervals, for a total of three > treatments. The absorbent paper pad remaining after the first treatment > can be used again for subsequent treatments, or it can be replaced with > another pad. > > For control of Varroa mites: Apply 30 to 40 ml of 65 % formic acid onto > the bottom board or onto absorbent paper placed on the bottom board or > hive top bars (top bar applications may be less effective for Varroa). > Re-apply at 1 to 4 day intervals, for a total of three to six > treatments. > > For control of both tracheal and Varroa mites: Apply 30 to 40 ml of 65 % > formic acid onto the bottom board or onto absorbent paper placed on the > bottom board or hive top bars (top bar applications may be less > effective for Varroa). > Re-apply at 4 day intervals, for a total of four to six treatments. > > For detection of Varroa mites: Place a sticky white paper covered by a > 3x3 mm mesh screen on the bottom board. Apply 40 ml of 65 % formic acid > to an absorbent paper placed on the screen or on the hive top bars. > Check the sticky surface for fallen mites after 24 hours, and again > after 3 days, when it can be removed. > > For one-story colonies (bees covering 4 to 10 full-size Langstroth > frames or equivalent): > Apply half the amounts indicated above, using the same method and > timing. > > First Aid: > IF ON SKIN: Remove contaminated clothing immediately. Wash affected area > with soap or mild detergent and large amounts of water. If chemical burn > develops, cover area with a sterile, dry dressing, bandage securely and > contact a physician immediately. > IF IN EYES: Wash eyes immediately with large amounts of water. Cover > with sterile bandages. Contact a physician immediately. > IF INGESTED: Do not induce vomiting. Drink large quantities of water or > milk. If vomiting occurs, administer fluids repeatedly. Never give > anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Contact a physician or > Poison Control Center immediately. Take container or product name with > you to the hospital emergency department or physician. > IF INHALED: Remove person to a safe, uncontaminated area. If breathing > has stopped, clear airway and start artificial respiration. Never give > anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Get immediate medical > attention. Take container or product name with you to the hospital > emergency department or physician. > > Storage: Store in original container, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated > area. Use caution when opening the container, especially in warm > weather, as pressure may have built up. Avoid heat, sparks and open > flames. Store away from sulphuric acid and oxidizing materials. Formic > acid vapors are heavier than air, and may collect in low places, or flow > to an ignition source and flash back. > > Disposal: Absorbent pads containing formic acid should be disposed of > according to provincial instructions. For information on the disposal of > unused, unwanted or damaged product and the cleanup of spills, contact > the regional office of Environmental Protection, Environment Canada. > Follow provincial instructions for any required cleaning of the formic > acid container prior to its disposal. Dispose of the container in > accordance with provincial requirements. > > Notice to User: This control product is to be used only in accordance > with the directions on this label. It is an offense under the Pest > Control Products Act to use a control product under unsafe conditions. > > (end) > Dear Kerry, Thanks for taking the trouble tosend along some very informative data. Cheers from Maryland. Jack the B-man Ellicott City founded 1772