> Oxalic acid is hurting (weakening) bees and open a gate for secondary
>   
> diseases ( for instance - virus).
>
>   

It has been shown that OA does harm bees and brood. However the degree 
of harm depends on the strength of the acid, when applied,  and the 
number of times it is applied.

Plus, the bees recover from the treatments when done properly.

The second part of the statement, opening a gate for disease, is not a 
necessary follow up to the first. There are many things at work here and 
I would be slow to condemn the use of OA. Improper use, late use (after 
Varroa have done their damage), or a host of other factors can lead to 
colony problems. It should be noted that OA should be applied when the 
colony is nearly broodless, so the problems in the article should not 
apply to proper OA use, especially in Northern areas.

It would be nice to hear from someone else in Sweden with good 
documentation to confirm the use of OA and high losses. I take those 
kind of statements with a grain of salt unless I know the source and any 
prejudices involved.

Bill Truesdell (who has 175 tons of salt in his bee yard since joining 
the beelist)
Bath, Maine

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