A few Questions

[psycprof2002]

I have been off the forum for awhile. Getting back.

I have been using buckets over the inner cover for feeding, but I've been thinking about going to the hive top feeder like Mann Lake or Better Bee sells, similar to the miller type. I was wondering about their usefulness here in Minnesota. Someone told me they are no good to use in the spring or with package bees, but great for the fall. What do you think?

Also, I've been thinking about mite treatments. I don't want hard chemicals, so I've been thinking about Api-Guard or Api-Life-Var. Does ALV work as well as Brushy Mountain claims? What would you suggest I try? I don't really want to do the formic, but I will if it works better.

I'm going to get 3 packages this spring two Italians and 1 Carniolan. I want to eventually raise my own queens that will be adapted to my area.

Thanks for your help.

[size="1"][ February 12, 2007, 09:54 AM: Message edited by: psycprof2002 ][/size]

[Pete0]

I'm in southeastern Virginia so the feeder question I can't address. As for the ApiLife VAR however, I do have some experience. It is easy to use but unless you are treating hives in multiples of two you're left with a partial unused packet that is a pain to repackage. I've resealed the unused portion in a couple of Ziploc baggies but the order still gets out. I'm going to try the ApiGuard this year as one container is one application.

Good luck.

Pete0
Bena, VA

[Michael Bush]

In cold weather I have trouble getting them to take any syrup from the top feeders. They will in warm weather, but in cold weather something closer to the cluster (like the bucket or a jar feeder or baggie feeder) gets taken much better.

Maybe if you live in a warmer climate this is not a problem. The deeper the miller feeder and the more syrup there is in it, the more the cold is a problem because they have to travel further to get to it and the syrup has to absorb more heat before it's warm enough for them to take it.

With the baggie feeders the syrup usually gets warm from the cluster and is not very far away.

The millers are nice for feeding in the fall when the weather is nice.

[psycprof2002]

Michael,

I understand. I will use either the baggie or bucket feeder.

[Michael Bush]

Use whatever they will take. Just don't be surprised if you have to flip the miller style feeders over and use them for baggie feeders. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[thomas]

Howdy i use the Api-Life Var and it works well but the smell is strong and it seems to have kicked the mites in the dirt in my third hive and after the treatments they stored more honey for the winter then the other two and have built up real nice. I like it and will use it in mrch as the weather warms up to keep mite under control.

Tom

[psycprof2002]

Thanks, Thomas. I appreciate the info. I found it interesting that Brushy Mountain claims a 90 to 95% kill rate but others say only 75 to 80%. I don't understand the difference. In any case, I'm going to avoid hard chemicals.

[peggjam]

MiteAway II is also a decent treatment, and works, I believe for treachale mites as well. Just don't open one in an enclosed area, as it has very strong fumes.

[Joel]

{very strong fumes.}
Which are caustic to the mucus membranes, irittaiting to skin as well as highly flamable. It does work on both mites though!