My results had consistent low efficacy in late July / early Aug. See MAQS results archive if interested. I have been to a couple of state meetings recently and talked with a number of large beekeepers about my and their results. Over all I would say that those that had "good" results were in smaller colonies, 1 1/2 and doubles. Some used only 1 strip. Nobody I talked with tested as carefully as I did so reports could only be classified as anecdotal. All noted the heavy toll on brood and on many queens. Temperature seemed less critical than colony size, large colonies had poorer results. More than a few said they would never use them again and a few said they were happy. Everybody noted the difficulty of separating the pads.

I followed up with 2 Apivar strips once suppers were off. Colonies still very large, 15-18 frames.The strips were moved after 3 weeks to keep them in the brood nest as the colonies plugged out and remover at 6 to 6 1/2 weeks. After a very heavy initial drop (well over 1K) I had a gradually reducing drop until the last tests in mid Oct. read 2 to 5 mites on a 72 hour sticky board. I'll do the usual oxalic in early Dec.

I feel like I dodged a bullet this year. My plan going forward is to follow Medhat's advice and do a spring Apivar followed by fall formic (perhaps) and winter oxalic drip.

Paul Hosticka
Dayton WA 

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