At the last Apimondia convention I met some scandinavian people who were using
liquid formic acid for varroa control in a quite different way.  Here is the new
danish way to use the formic:
 
1-  250ml of 85% formic acid is poured in a small plastic bag;
 
2-  a 20 cm long piece of soft wood is also put in the bag so it will absorb the
formic;
 
3-  the well closed bags a carried to the apiary and they are set on top of the
frames of each hive sitting on two small blocks of wood  to let the air
circulate under.  I understand that a wooden rim is set on the last super.
There is also an air space above the bag;
 
4-  a 1 cm X 6 cm slot is then cut on top of the bag with a razor knife and the
hive is closed.
 
 
I am sorry that I cannot give any more details.
 
This method seems interesting.  The slow release effect would probably save two
trips to the apiary.  Maybe it would also involve less risk of queen loss.  The
danish representative told me that the danish beekeepers like this method very
much.
 
I think Ingemar Fries is probably the man it.
 
Anybody can comment on this?
 
What do you think of it Kerry?
(By the way I would appreciate the french translation of the formic label.
Peter Keating just asked me about it recently)
 
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Jean-Pierre Chapleau                         phone: (819) 828-3396
1282, rang 8,                                fax:   (819) 828-2248
Saint-Adrien de Ham, QUEBEC
Canada, J0A 1C0                          [log in to unmask]
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