Brian Tassey, In response to your two postings; 1. For several years, work has been done on developing a 'gelled Formic Acid' formulation in order to reduce the applicator's exposure, and have a prolonged, slow release application of FA. This was initiated and supported by MEDIVET Pharmaceuticals of High River, Alberta (ph. (403) 652-4441 / fx. (403) 652-3692). There have been several collaborators with the testing, but the principal investigator has been my colleague, Kerry Clark in Dawson Creek ([log in to unmask]). Although the product is not ready for releasr at this time, you may contact these parties directly for more information. 2. Amitraz is undoubtedly very effective in controlling mites. However, its toxicity profile and the nature of this product would make me think twice ever to use on my bees. In 1990, I wrote a short article on the product in response to the concern that Amitraz was going to be used in similar fashion as has been reported on Apistan in northern Italy; dipping plywood or cardboard strips in a solution. Amitraz is an incomparably more dangerous substance than some of the pyrethroids and I am not so surprised that the product is no longer legally available for use in bee hives. Paul van Westendorp [log in to unmask] Provincial Apiarist British Columbia