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Treating bees with oxalic acid helps get rid of mites. As is known, infection of bees causes significant damage to the apiary. A sick family has a weakened state, their level of productivity decreases, and insects can often die. It is important to understand that the hive is a single whole, which is why if only one individual from the entire family is infected, the disease will quickly spread to others. If you start fighting the disease after it is detected, you can overcome it in the shortest possible time.
Benefits of using oxalic acid against varroatosis
Oxalic acid is often used to treat bees. Judging by the reviews of beekeepers, this drug is affordable and highly effective. This powder is used to treat insects if they are found to have mites; most often the drug is purchased to combat varroatosis.You can fight varroatosis with the help of acaricides; as a rule, such drugs come in several groups:
- heavy – chemical reagents such as fluvalinate, amitraz;
- lungs – organic acids, which include formic and oxalic acid. These substances are considered the most gentle, as a result of which they do not harm insects and do not reduce the quality of the finished product.
Oxalic acid is colorless crystals, dibasic carbolic acid, dissolves quite quickly in water. In addition, it is an environmentally friendly product and has other advantages:
- high processing speed of bee colonies;
- low labor costs;
- the action occurs as quickly as possible.
The processing process is simple; there is no need to disassemble the hives. Ticks begin to fall off after 10-12 days. An important feature is the fact that the effectiveness of the application is 93%.
The benefits and harms of treating bees with oxalic acid
Oxalic acid is a remedy that allows you to get rid of mites that appear on bees during their life. With prolonged illness, parasites can destroy the entire family. As a rule, not the whole family is infected, but 1-2 individuals, who subsequently spread the disease to the rest.
You can find a large number of drugs on sale, but as practice shows, they are either toxic, as a result of which they have a detrimental effect on bees and finished products, which after processing cannot be eaten, or their effectiveness is not so great. If efficiency is low, the treatment process has to be repeated, but it often happens that the tick gets used to the drug used and does not die.
Oxalic acid is effective, and it does not cause side effects in bees, and the finished products after processing can be eaten on a general basis.
Which method to choose
You can use the powder in several ways:
- prepare an aqueous solution and spray the individuals;
- sublimation - steam treatment of bee colonies.
Most often, the acid is diluted with water. The popularity of this method is due to the fact that the efficiency level is 93%, while steam treatment is only 80%.
The manufacturer provides instructions, which must be studied in detail before use and processing and only then sprayed with bees. In this case, the powder is dissolved in water.
If the powder is heated, it will turn into steam, which is used to treat bees against mites. Since sublimation can be carried out at temperatures from +10°C, this method can be used even in the fall.
Each beekeeper can choose any method that is most convenient for him. For example, if the infection is severe, then it is best to choose a method in which the powder is dissolved in water, since the effectiveness of this method is much higher. For preventive purposes, steam treatment can be used.
How to treat bees with oxalic acid
The process of treating bees does not take much effort and time, and it does not require special skills, the main thing is to take into account the recommendations, some nuances and prepare the solution according to the attached instructions. All preparatory work before using acid boils down to removing honeycombs with honey and beebread from the hives. This must be done so that the insects in the hive gather in a group, which allows the medicine to act faster and more efficiently.
Processing times
It is necessary to use oxalic acid in beekeeping carefully and according to the attached instructions. As a rule, it is recommended to treat bee colonies about 5 times throughout the active season. If you plan to use an aqueous solution, then work must be carried out only if the outside temperature is +16°C and above; bee colonies can be treated with steam even at +10°C.
The first treatment occurs in the spring, when the mass flight is completed. If the infection is severe, the procedure should be repeated after 1-2 weeks.
In the summer, oxalic acid is used twice to combat ticks; the treatment interval remains the same in all cases. The first time the drug is used after the honey has been pumped out of the hives and the next time before feeding the individuals with syrup begins. If necessary, autumn treatment can be carried out after the bees have left the brood.
Preparation of solutions
The powder used to treat bee colonies must first be diluted with clean water. After all the ingredients are mixed, you should get a 2% solution.During the preparation process, it is necessary to take into account some nuances:
- take clean water;
- the drug should remain on individuals for as long as possible.
To understand whether the water taken is suitable, it is necessary to test it. In this case, it is recommended to add a little powder to the liquid; if after a short period of time a sediment is visible, then such water cannot be used. This is due to the fact that the presence of impurities reduces the efficiency and the desired result will not be achieved.
Experienced beekeepers recommend using distilled and bottled water. If necessary, you can use boiled. In any case, the cooking liquid used must be warm - at least +30°C.
To increase efficiency, it is recommended to add a small amount of granulated sugar, as a result of which the drug will stay on the bees much longer. The cooking process is as follows:
- Take 1 liter of warm water.
- Oxalic acid – 20 g.
- A small amount of granulated sugar.
- Mix everything thoroughly.
Preparation should be done just before application; such a solution cannot be stored for a long time. After 48 hours the drug becomes unusable.
In addition, oxalic acid and glycerin can be used for processing. The components must be mixed in containers made of wood, plastic or glass. The work algorithm looks like this:
- Take 25 g of oxalic acid, 25 ml of glycerin (this amount is enough to process 1 hive).
- Glycerin is heated in the microwave (it should be hot, but not boiling).
- Glycerin is mixed with the powder.
- A waffle towel is moistened in the prepared solution.
- Squeeze lightly to get rid of excess absorbed solution.
A waffle towel soaked in a glycerin-based solution is placed in the lower part of the hive. During the decomposition of oxalic acid in glycerin, formic acid is formed.
How to treat bees with oxalic acid
To treat insects with oxalic acid, you can use mechanical sprayers or equipment with an electric air pumping system. Many beekeepers use the Rosinka device for processing. It is important to consider that the spraying process can only be carried out if the temperature outside is at least +16°C, and the weather must be dry and windless.
Each frame takes about 10-12 ml of the finished product. Oxalic acid is sprayed from a distance of 30-40 cm, and the angle should be 45 degrees. If necessary, you don’t have to remove the frames from the hive; it will be enough to process the streets. During the processing work, it is worth making sure that the solution gets directly onto the bees.
There is no need to try to hit each individual; as they move, they rub against each other, thereby leaving a solution. If oxalic acid is applied and diluted correctly, then after some time it will be on the body of all insects.
After the work is completed, the frames are covered using plastic film for these purposes. Such actions allow you to create an atmosphere inside the hive that has a detrimental effect on mites. It is important to take into account the fact that processing can only be done if there is no brood.
How many times does it need to be processed
It is necessary to treat infected individuals with oxalic acid immediately after the mass flight of insects has come to an end. If the bee colony is sufficiently affected by the mite, then 12 days should pass after the first treatment, after which the procedure is repeated.
In summer, an interval of up to 12 days is maintained between treatments. In this case, honey can be consumed without fear.
It is also worth considering that in the autumn the treatment of bees with oxalic acid must be carried out without fail. Many beekeepers note that the drug is much more effective in the fall than in the spring.
Security measures
When treating bees with oxalic acid for varroatosis, safety precautions must be observed. It is important to consider that this type of drug at high concentrations has a detrimental effect on the skin of the hands. If treatment in spring and summer using a smoke gun is carried out incorrectly, then there is a possibility of poisoning with toxic fumes. Thus, when starting to treat bee colonies against mites, it is important to follow safety measures, which look like this:
- When working with oxalic acid, you should wear a rubberized apron and high gloves;
- Be sure to wear glasses over your eyes and boots on your feet;
- if you plan to use steam, then a respirator is required;
- after the treatment process is completely completed, it is necessary to remove all protective equipment used and thoroughly wash your hands and face using soap.
It is recommended to store oxalic acid away from water.This is due to the fact that the crystals will begin to absorb moisture and subsequently turn into stone.
Conclusion
Treatment of bees with oxalic acid is the most popular among beekeepers. This is due to the fact that this drug has an acceptable cost, is easy to use, does not require special skills, and is much more effective than other drugs. This drug can be used for years, since numerous studies have not revealed resistance of ticks to the effects of oxalic acid.
how to prepare and in what concentration a solution of oxalic acid for a smoke gun