Randy about Apiguard
>More for larger colonies, less for weaker. We don't
> notice appreciable brood kill.
Dosing this way seems natural for many beekeepers, but it is the wrong way.
When giving varroa treatment with substances that evaporate to hive air the
weak colonies should be given more active incredient than to the strong ones
if the colonies have equal amount of boxes.
Why so ?
Evaporation depends on temperature. The weak colonies are cooler and
evaporation is slower. This way the concentration of active incredient in
the hive air ends up to be lower is smaller hives. The evaporation process
in small hives is slower so the treatment goes on longer time. The longer
time does not always help to compensate the smaller concentration in air as
certain levels must be reached to get enough effect to kill the mites.
When doing this kind of treatments check how long does it take for
evaporation in different hives. Amount of bees and outside temperature are
the biggest factors.
Ari Seppälä
Finland
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