On Sat, Aug 31, 2013 at 3:05 PM, randy oliver  wrote:

>
> We're not scrimping on investment--it costs us nearly $5 grand and a bunch
> of labor to put two MAQS in all our hives.  However, a full dose of Apivar
> would cost a great deal more, plus take more labor.
>

Apivar is costing here $2.50 per strip.  I have been putting two in a hive.
How much are MAQS?
Why does it take more labour to put Apivar than MAQS?

So far since Apivar was registered here I have done a fall treatment as
soon as the last honey is off and then a followup with oxalic in November
when we wrap.  It sounds a lot simpler and less labour than all the
treatments you have put on this year.  But I imagine with your longer
season mite control is much more difficult than here.   So I am not trying
to compare your costs and mine.  But I do not see where there is more cost
to doing Apivar than MAQS.

The thing that worries me the most with the way I am controlling varroa is
that if amitraz resistance develops in mites here, by the time I know that
it has come it will be too late in the season to have healthy winter bees.
But since Apivar my winter losses have been consistently about 15% so I am
happy to pay the over $16,000 bill I just got.

Stan

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