At 03:16 AM 7/25/96 +0000, you wrote:
>On Tue, 23 Jul 1996, John Caldeira wrote:
>
>>   I know of two nuc colonies in a high-varroa area that have thriving
>> colonies and two-year old strips in them (these are not honey-producing
>> colonies).   "Don't reuse Apistan" appears to be a frequent note on this
>> list, but What are the REAL facts on the effectiveness of reused Apistan?
>>
>I do'nt know either, but I need to protect my bees. How can I expect any
>product to perform consistantly better than the manufacturer claims? If I
>buy a strip that is specified to work once, and my bees die because the
>strip did'nt work a second time, who is to blame?
>
Hi All
 
I've been watching as this thread progressed and had hoped it would die the
death it so richly deserves.  I to have seen colonies survive with Apistan
that has been reused.  I have also seen colonies survive without it.  So the
fact that a colony survived, does not prove that it is a good practice to
reuse strips.  I just proves that the colony survived.
 
I just ordered Apistan which will go into the hives in August.  I cost me
$4.oo per brood-box.  I use single brood chambers so each $4.00 I spend
protects a colony that will probably produce 100 to 150 pounds of honey next
year.  Now I get $2.00 per pound for my honey.  With  these figures in mind,
why in the world would I or anyone else even consider skimping on Apistan
and risk losing a productive colony.  I personally just don't see the logic
here.  If nothing else, I like my bees to much not to do everything possible
to insure their survival.
 
Frank Humphrey
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