Can apiguard be used to treat a top bar hive?
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Some people have done it with mixed results.
Problem being the TBH design is not well suited to distribute the vapors properly. Usually a fair bit of empty space in the average TBH, plus the top bars being joined together is a major problem.
A non vapor treatment such as apivar strips, which can be hung between combs and spreads by bee to bee contact, is ideal for TBH's.
Problem being the TBH design is not well suited to distribute the vapors properly. Usually a fair bit of empty space in the average TBH, plus the top bars being joined together is a major problem.
A non vapor treatment such as apivar strips, which can be hung between combs and spreads by bee to bee contact, is ideal for TBH's.
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I don't know much of treating the bees - disclaimer.
But IF a TBH has dual entrances at both ends, why not use some forced air movement (apply the med at one end - slowly suck the air from the other end - that should pull the vapor/gas through the entire long hive).
Say, you notice that med started exiting from the entrance where you pull the air out - this means that the med has filled the entire hive volume - you now can stop pulling.
I don't know of the workable implementation of this or even feasibility.
But the idea seem logical to me - assuming dual-entrance TBH OR an asymmetric entrance (then you can create a hole at the opposite end and do the same pull-through process).
But IF a TBH has dual entrances at both ends, why not use some forced air movement (apply the med at one end - slowly suck the air from the other end - that should pull the vapor/gas through the entire long hive).
Say, you notice that med started exiting from the entrance where you pull the air out - this means that the med has filled the entire hive volume - you now can stop pulling.
I don't know of the workable implementation of this or even feasibility.
But the idea seem logical to me - assuming dual-entrance TBH OR an asymmetric entrance (then you can create a hole at the opposite end and do the same pull-through process).
No. Not really. (Not in my experience, anyway). Oxalic is probably the easiest treatment to use (yes... I know it is less effective in summer). Here's a little article from Randy: http://scientificbeekeeping.com/mite-management-in-top-bar-hives/
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