Allen,

Good point.  (Derek also emailed me another version and I thank him)

I was actually reading all the articles on your “Formic” url, one of the
best on the subject, in fact.  Thinking the oxalic stuff is a bit new in
America, I’ve been checking mostly on European sites--the Bee-L archives
are not as inclusive--and as I did, a few questions came to my mind:

1. Most studies on oxalic acid, especially the crystal-evaporation method,
seemed to have been done on conventional bottom boards, not on screened
bottoms, thus making the dosage and efficacy unclear on the latter.

2. If trickling method is effective, why can’t be spraying atop effective
as well, without breaking the cluster?  Imagine a commercial operator with
thousands of hives, going at it frame by frame.  Interestingly, trickling
and spraying use two different concoctions: the former, with syrup, and
the latter, without.

3.  I read about a German beekeeper using, a la formic pad, sort of the
shop-towel-emersion method: soaking paper towels into alcohol and oxalic
solution, drying the towels, and putting them inside the hives, like Oxa-
mite-strips.  But the details were not available.  I would like to know
more about this technique.

4. Funny how some report about oxalic-resistant mites in Europe.  How
could that be?  Have mites come up with a stronger proboscis so quickly?
Similarly, despite some fine-tuned research, there are lots of
confusing/conflicting mis/disinformation on OA (oxalic acid) still, just
like any other treatment, perhaps.

5. And to say the obvious, we seem to be lagging behind on this issue.


Yoon

Shawnee, OK

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and  other info ---
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::