apiguard query

[easyvee]

its my hives first year and im not intending to harvest this year (mostly syrup).

so the bee inspector reccomended apiguard now whilst the temp is still up.
The instructions say 2 weeks per packet, hive al sealed up, entrance block in, I take it that i shouldnt do my weekly inspection during the two weeks?

cheers

easy vee

[KQ6AR]

I have a box of it right here, the directions say temps 60F-105F.
Install a spacer, because you need 1/4" above the tin.
open 1 tin leaving the foil attacked in one corner.
Place in middle of box gel side up.
After 2 weeks install the second tin, & leave it in until empty.

Are you're mite counts high?

[KQ6AR]

My directions don't say anything about closing up the hive.

[KQ6AR]

Hi,
I just whet back & read the instruction sheet inside the box. It does say close hive.
I interpret that as just putting the lid back on the hive.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

[easyvee]

the bee inspector said close up the mesh floor also to keep the fumes in. and the crown board holes.
mite count over summer has been zero (although i realise this doesnt mean they be clean)

but we digress, what about the inspection?

[KQ6AR]

Hi easyvee,
A little reading material, www.scientificbeekeeping.com
This is Randy Olivers website, he & many others don't recommend trying to rid the hive of mites, unless the levels are too high for you're area, & season.

The reasoning behind this, is too make the bees better adapt to taking care of the mites on their own. They say if levels are too high, by all means kill the mites.

I don't know anything about you're area, or the way things are done there.

It makes sence to close the screen, thanks for the info.

[Ken&Andria]

Apiguard works by having the bees drag the gel through the hive as they remove it. If you block the entrance, they can't remove the gel.

Also, I scrape the gel out of the trays and spread it on a piece of wax paper. This way I don't need a spacer, and sometimes they even remove the wax paper with the gel. I just close off the top entrance and let them do their thing. Worked for me last year, we'll see how this winter goes...

[Motown]

"Apiguard works by having the bees drag the gel through the hive as they remove it."

http://www.apimondia.org/apiacta/slovenia/en/esquijarosa.pdf

I'm not so sure about that! Please read attached study, the effects of touching/not touching the Apiguard were negligible. I know a read abetter study from Spain that said it more conclusively. I'll try to find it and attach that link.

[beemandan]

http://www.vita-europe.com/Map_enscript/frmbuilder.php?dateiname=%2Fen%2Fproducts%2Fapigua rd.htm
According to the manufacturer:
After administration of the product homogeneous distribution within the bee colony is assured by vapour release and also by the bees' social behaviour (feeding exchange and cleaning activities).
Sublimation: During the first few days, vapour plus solvent is slowly given off. Unlike some other formulations, or with raw crystals, this does not disturb the bees. The concentration of the thymol vapour from the gel gradually increases to a set level.

Contact: Worker bees climb into the APIGUARD tray and begin to remove the gel, as a hive cleaning behaviour. The gel adheres to the bees' body hairs and as the bees run through the hive they distribute the product to the colony. The gel that the worker is carrying is eventually thrown out through the hive entrance but the trail it leaves behind on its journey through the brood nest remains until it too in cleaned