"Not to me, the idea of OAV in any form is not of interest to me. "

Pete, you may have good  reasons to feel like this.  I would like to understand those reasons.  Could you please tell us what they are?

To me OVA is not particularly attractive to someone with under five hives.  There are other good alternatives that do not cost much in $ or time compared to the equipment set up and cost of OVA equipment.  But when you get to 20 or more hives the band heater OVA apparatus becomes very cost effective as set up time per hive is very low, it eliminates lifting supers to do an application, it is faster per hive than any alternative and with reasonable safety precautions it is as safe as any other treatment method and probably safer than some alternatives such as thymol.

When you get to a few hundred hives one of the OA blasters that costs a couple of thousand $ becomes real attractive as it reduces treatment times to a few seconds per hive.  Under ten seconds per hive from what I hear.  I hear commercial bee keepers talking about the excellent mite control they get with these.

Yes, it requires multiple treatments per hive when brood is present.  So what?  It is so fast and easy six treatments are going to take less time than installing one MAQS or to make and install one oxalic acid-glycerin pad when honey supers are on.

Dick

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html