Bill;

Check the archives - I have been using the WVa formic fume board for 3
years and have commented several times.  I like it.  Yes, fume boards must
be built and stored, but they can be used over and over.  I like the fact
that I can control the amount of formic based on hive strength - that is
part of the instructions.  I also like the fact that it delivers a flash of
formic, so I can put the boards on in the afternoon of a hot day and remove
them the next morning and avoid the heat of the day.  I had to switch over
to solid bottom boards and fix up my hive bodies to get a good seal for the
flash treatment.  Diluting the formic takes care and precision but nothing
you didn't learn in basic chemistry about handling acids.  My only trouble
is finding a good source of formic - I have to order it from a biofuel web
site in 5 gallon buckets.  I have had no queen loss issues.  I use a shot
of HBH as per the instructions though that may or may not make any
difference, but it smells better than the formic.

I am thinking about giving the hives a shot of 90% formic this summer to
deliberately kill the queen and most of the mites as a means of quick
de-queening to induce a queen-less/broodless period to break the mite
cycle, but am just in the thinking stage right now.

Bill Lord
Louisburg, NC

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html