Jeremy;

Do you use a hydrometer to check your formic dilution?  Have you gotten a
new batch of formic?  I have been using formic boards for 5 years on 200
colonies and I really like them as I can control the dose and put the
boards on when I want to.  I think the strips overload the hive with
formic...A board gives a quick, accurate dose based on hive cavity size and
is gone in 12 hours.

I just treated 220 hives with formic boards because I have pulled my honey
(the main flow is over in NC, though it was a really good one) and I am
writing you from the Republic of Georgia, where I will be working for a
couple of weeks. I treated in 90 degree temps but did it late in the
evening and had no problems.   I have been putting the boards on in late
June, post flow, for a mite knock down and then do an alcohol wash in early
August to see which hives need another dose.  I like to see 100 or so newly
hatched bees dead out front after an formic flash treatment because then I
know it worked on the mites too.  I have seen a lot of variability in
supposedly 90% formic and check my mixes with a hydrometer.

Again, I like the boards, though I almost put my eye out by jamming the
ear-piece of my safety glasses into my eye while trying to put them on
through a veil last week....

Bill Lord
beekeepingconsultingfordevelopment.com
Louisburg, NC

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