In a message dated 1/9/02 9:20:22 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:


> I always advocated spring treatment with FORMIC ACID and fall treatment with
> APISTAN. In the spring, formic will kill something like 85%-95% of mites.
> As temperature gets higher in the spring, formic acid works better. In the
> fall, I found that bees tend to add propolis and wax to the perforated bags
> and seal the holes.

Hi Medhat and Lloyd and all
I would like to add that I was lucky enough to talk with Medhat on numerous
occasions while he worked with us in the Ontario Beekeepers association.  I
have
followed his recommendations every year but one (I missed the spring
treatment with Formic acid and how I regretted that!)  In that fall I had
significant losses to Tracheal mites.  Thus I can vouch that his
recommendations work here in Ontario Canada.  What is often not mentioned is
that Formic acid is effective against both mites, whereas Apistan is
effective only against Varroa.

Medhat, in one of your presentation there was a graph that to me, a layman,
indicated that Formic acid worked better on Tracheal mites in the spring when
they seemed more vulnerable then than in the fall.  Perhaps this is more an
issue in our climate up here.  You might add to that for us.

I hope you will let us know when you develop the bag you mention.  It sounds
great and I believe that beekeepers in New Zealand would find it useful too,
since they now have Varroa but not Veggie bags.

Keep up the good work
george