Apiguard...blackened bees?

3089 Views 2 Replies 2 Participants Last post by gatorflhr, Jul 4, 2010

gatorflhr

Discussion Starter · Jul 3, 2010

I just started treatment with Apiguard on two of my hives. I hadnt planed on getting anyhoney off of them anyway, so i went ahead and started treatment now. I live in NC and the temperature here has been in the mid 80's to mid 90's.
When i came home from work this AM, i found several bees around the hive that has tracheal mites ( diagnosed by behavior, crossed wings, unable to fly from ground) that there were several bees on the outside of the hive which looked burnt. THier heads , abdomen and some of thier legs blackened. I did close up the hive, top and bottom screens to let the vapors work , as i thought you were supposed to do? Ive never used this product before, but seemed like the oly one safe at these daytime temperatures. My only other thought is that they may have gone after some fireworks somewhere, i the night. My town celebrated fireworks last night instead of Sunday. It doesent lok as though any burn marks on the outside of the hive, so i would say no to vandals.
I ve never heard of thymol gel causing such a reaction, and the temperatures have been mid 80's since application, so the gel isnt even fully kickin in yet, is it? Its just the oddest thing, its as though theyve been burnt.
Any Advice/experience on this?? The Apiguard is new, not out of date. And it is Apiguard Gel, the time release stuff, not Apistan or Apilife, etc.,

-Thanks

-Joe

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wildbranch2007

· #2 · Jul 4, 2010

gatorflhr said:
I just started treatment with Apiguard on two of my hives. I hadnt planed on getting anyhoney off of them anyway, so i went ahead and started treatment now. I live in NC and the temperature here has been in the mid 80's to mid 90's.

from the apiguard web site
12. Q: It’s very hot where my hives are but the colonies need treating; is it safe to
use Apiguard in these conditions?
A: At temperatures above 25ºC (77ºF) it is possible to use a half-dose of
Apiguard and get a very good mite kill. Use 2 doses of 25g Apiguard, one week apart
instead of 2 x 50g at two weeks apart. A third 25g dose is sometimes used after the
second week where mite infestations are high.
When it is very hot, the thymol sublimes faster from the gel and the bees are more
active moving the Apiguard around. Both these factors increase the effectiveness of
the treatment and less product is needed. Make sure the hive entrance is not restricted,
allowing thymol vapour to escape.

randy oliver wrote an article on using apiguard in hot weather and also recommended a lower dose, you may wnat to look on his web site

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gatorflhr

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 4, 2010

You never get this info until you start huh? I looked everywhere and never saw this, especially on the prduct info! Thanks.
I did close up the SBB's with mite boards, which are not very airtight, did not rescrict the entrances. I did, however, restrict top ventilation. That is, i removed screen tops. I'm just running a spacer ( i call it a treatment spacer) flat top and bottom. I thought the object was to not let too much thymol vapors escape???
Anyway, i have noticed alot more girls on the front porch at night since this started, i assummed from the less ventilation. They are bearding 2-4 bees thich now!! THese are double deep hives, and were starting on shallows supers above that. THese hives are very beestrong, having alot of bees and various stages of brood, not alot of honey though.
I havent noticed anymore blackened bees. I guess i'll go into the hives tomorrow and possibly put the screen tops back on?
I must also say, the vapors from these hives are far less potent than those ive used Api-Life on. And the intitial dead mite count much lower also.

-Joe

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