vinegar steam in the hive & mites?

[Jason G in Tennessee]

Has anyone ever used vinegar steam pumped into the entrance to help rid the bees of mites?
I read about it in the last Bee Journal I think.

[Daisy]

Steam? Steam is hot, isn't it?

The moisture might do damage, I would think.

This does not compute.

[NewBee]

I have heard of the process....but...don't know anyone who has tried it. They are using formic acid...why not acetic acid (vinegar). Now the only problem is should it be introduced by steam.....FGMO style? Steve

[Michael Bush]

I wouldn't try it unless you can find some study to support it and some specifics on how to administer it. Any organic acid such as formic, oxalic or even acetic is lethal to bees if it is too strong or too much.

[honeyman46408]

I have talked to one BK that has the machine that blows the steam into the entrance and he swares by it but the way he talked it was the cure for everything but I think the jury is still out that is a lot of money to spend on something that is not realy proven?
I also met another guy that was doing the same thing with the Burgess foger and he clamed great results so who knowes what works for one does not always work for another

[hoosierhiver]

i've tried vinegar steam using a modified cappuchino steamer,no noticable effect with regular household vinegar,which is about 5% acetic acid,i've read that at @ 30%, the acetic acid affects the mite's exoskeleton and they die off,not sure if this has a noticable mite drop from this method,i've heard it is more gradual and so some people assume it's not effective.i don't know for sure.i've found a photography shop that will sell me 100% acetic acid(apparently it's used in photo development some how),i've considered trying it after watering it down to 30%,haven't had enough time to do all my mad scientist stuff lately,will let you know if there are any new developments.

[Michael Bush]

Yes any photo supply shop has stop bath which is fairly pure acetic acid which they then water down. It freezes at very high temps (don't remember off the top of my head but I'm thinking it's like 50 degrees) so don't store it anywhere where it gets cool.