>Oxalic acid eats away at the bee's chitinous shell and damages it.

I haven't seen much research on this subject.  But have performed some
myself.  Application of OA in glycerin at higher ratios of glycerin can
cause signs of irritation and brood damage.  I don't notice this at the 1:1
ratio.

But I have noticed that if I apply OA to bees, then freeze a sample of bees
and leave them to dry for a few days, that the OA acidity level on them, as
quantified by titration, is greatly reduced. OA-water solution dripped onto
a glass cover slip is not reduced.  The same solution dripped onto shrimp
chitin is quickly neutralized, but shrimp chitin contains calcium
carbonate.  Insect chitin is said not to contain calcium carbonate.  I have
yet to figure out the reason that the OA is neutralized on dry bee chitin
over time.

>Statistically, if there were issues I would have seen them.

I completely agree with Jennifer!  Even after repeated OAVs, I don't
observe adverse effects.  And colonies treated with OAE (extended-release
in glycerin) are the healthiest and most productive, with no signs of brood
issue or queen loss.  Since I've treated thousands of colonies with OAE,
and watch them closely, I would likely have observed any adverse effects.

I also have two studies that I performed with OA dribble on nucs, at my
website.  They indicated that there was no adverse effect upon nuc buildup
or honey production.

No treatment is harmless (as noted in the side discussions on neonics and
glyphosate).  But the benefits of properly-applied OA clearly outweigh the
damage due to varroa.


Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
530 277 4450
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