MAQS
I just completed the last day of the MAQS (Mite Aid Quick Stips) treatment, which use formic acid in a pad to gas the hives. The manufacturer, NODS, in Canada, recommended treating all the hives at once, even though there were some that did not appear to have mites.
I switched to this treatment because the minimum temperature for use was 50 degrees F, and its been this way for awhile. Api Life Var requires a higher temperature- and takes 3 treatments. This just takes one.
Using it was quick- I was able to install it on 10 hives in less than a half hour. The manufacturer said to expect bearding- as they sought to get clear of the formic acid (its super powerful). However, I didn't notice anything. They moved away from the pads, but otherwise, everything seemed normal.
Until the next morning, where I found each hive with a pile of dead young bees- all very small- some still barely moving- outside the front of the hives, and on the landing boards. No brood (which the manufacturer had said would be an issue), just small bees, and drones. I looked it up to see if this was a common reaction- but only found a few forum comments talking about it.
I wrote the manufacturer, who emailed me back with a comprehensive letter in less than an hour. They had to report my findings- to some European agency- but said that the reaction was normal. That a cup or so of dead adult bees would be normal (though I could not find a reference to this in their literature). They also said to keep the hives together until day 16, where brood would hatch that had been capped during this week, and there should be another mite drop.
I think I'd use this again- especially if i find that the hives are still strong, and the mite count is significantly down. Its a safe product for the honey- and can be used at any time- so that seems like a plus as well.
I switched to this treatment because the minimum temperature for use was 50 degrees F, and its been this way for awhile. Api Life Var requires a higher temperature- and takes 3 treatments. This just takes one.
Using it was quick- I was able to install it on 10 hives in less than a half hour. The manufacturer said to expect bearding- as they sought to get clear of the formic acid (its super powerful). However, I didn't notice anything. They moved away from the pads, but otherwise, everything seemed normal.
Until the next morning, where I found each hive with a pile of dead young bees- all very small- some still barely moving- outside the front of the hives, and on the landing boards. No brood (which the manufacturer had said would be an issue), just small bees, and drones. I looked it up to see if this was a common reaction- but only found a few forum comments talking about it.
I wrote the manufacturer, who emailed me back with a comprehensive letter in less than an hour. They had to report my findings- to some European agency- but said that the reaction was normal. That a cup or so of dead adult bees would be normal (though I could not find a reference to this in their literature). They also said to keep the hives together until day 16, where brood would hatch that had been capped during this week, and there should be another mite drop.
I think I'd use this again- especially if i find that the hives are still strong, and the mite count is significantly down. Its a safe product for the honey- and can be used at any time- so that seems like a plus as well.
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