Beekeeping Forums banner
1 - 20 of 33 Posts

· Registered
Joined
·
1 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
I had four strong hives going into this winter. Three had the beetle buster bottom boards. I treated all four hives for mites prior to winter and the three with the beetle busters are now dead. I treated with Oxalic acid vaporization with a heated wand. On the beetle buster hives, I made a metal sheet to replace the diatomaceous earth board and put the wand on this sheet, below the corrugated sheet. I am wondering if maybe the holes in the corrugated sheet did not allow enough vapor to get into the hive to kill the mites. Has anyone else had this problem?
 

· Administrator
Joined
·
3,812 Posts
I don't even use my OAV applicator below my screened bottom board - it's too hard to get adequate vapor thru the hive. I am not familiar with the beetle buster boards. I got tired of burned bees and have experimented with 2 systems of getting OAV above the SBB, finally built a dispenser of a pvc primer can with my OAV wand inside it, and I really like that. Small hole, good coverage, good mite drop. And I can treat from the back side of the hive, less bee traffic
 

· Registered
Joined
·
264 Posts
I have a Varrox wand that I used one time and boxed it back up after I heard of people burning their hives and bees. I then bought a Lorobbees vaporizer so I can go in from behind the hive through a 1/4 inch hole. I have never let loose with the OA under a screened bottom board. I am not familiar with the bottom board you mention.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gypsi

· Administrator
Joined
·
3,812 Posts
I used my varrox wand many times, I'd just have 2 or 3 bees trying to run out the front door over it on each use, and the smell of burning bee is not good, tried a slot under the SBB from the back, where my sticky board went in, and was worried about it crystalizing on the screen. Had a spacer made with an opening slot to fit the varrox and go in from the back above the sbb that opening was hard to plug. Saw the primer can trick on another site, and made a 5/16 injection adapter, drilled a hole in the back bottom of the bottom box, and I just love how it worked. JB weld beats high temp silicone hands down btw. will post a pic later, foundation crew here, dog whining, and I think I will have to take the pic
 

· Registered
Joined
·
264 Posts
I used my varrox wand many times, I'd just have 2 or 3 bees trying to run out the front door over it on each use, and the smell of burning bee is not good, tried a slot under the SBB from the back, where my sticky board went in, and was worried about it crystalizing on the screen. Had a spacer made with an opening slot to fit the varrox and go in from the back above the sbb that opening was hard to plug. Saw the primer can trick on another site, and made a 5/16 injection adapter, drilled a hole in the back bottom of the bottom box, and I just love how it worked. JB weld beats high temp silicone hands down btw. will post a pic later, foundation crew here, dog whining, and I think I will have to take the pic
Got to take care of that puppy!
 

· Administrator
Joined
·
3,812 Posts
he needed out of his crate, I have foundation work going on so the dogs have been crated a lot, guys leave at 4, make up for it. Very proud of the dogs, my bunny is in the living room and no one really made an effort to eat her. 2 sniffed her, but doggy biscuits are better than rabbits
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,017 Posts
I don't even use my OAV applicator below my screened bottom board - it's too hard to get adequate vapor thru the hive. I am not familiar with the beetle buster boards. I got tired of burned bees and have experimented with 2 systems of getting OAV above the SBB, finally built a dispenser of a pvc primer can with my OAV wand inside it, and I really like that. Small hole, good coverage, good mite drop. And I can treat from the back side of the hive, less bee traffic
do you have any pics of that? the pvc primer can applicator
 

· Administrator
Joined
·
3,812 Posts
cell phone pics but I had to shove calcium pills down 3 heads throats and I hadn't had a decent dinner in days so I cooked and ate. I sure wouldn't go past 2 minutes with this - I can tell when the OA is gone (it is heated with lid on, obviously) because I'll see a wisp of heat where the wand enters and I was kinda worried about melting the can
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,017 Posts
I usually cook enough food for several meals, and have it in the fridge, just nuke it and eat..
ok so the idea behind that pvc container is to generate the oa vapor in the container then it goes into the hive so you dont burn bees, or is there more to it? what makes the vapor leave the container and go into the hive?..
 

· Administrator
Joined
·
3,812 Posts
the ink pen tube is at the top of the can, and the oav vapors rise and most of them get out of the can, although I saw crystals in the can when I took the pictures.

I usually cook 3 or 4 days worth, but I hadn't had a clean pan to cook in since I finished the crock pot roast at the end of last week, so I ate onion rings and a root beer float for dinner on Tuesday. i paid for that all night with a very miserable stomach so yesterday was dishwashing and cooking day
 

· Administrator
Joined
·
3,812 Posts
actually a probiotic earlier would have helped more. I'm lactose intolerant. Yesterday's cooking fed me today too - chicken mushroom sauteed onions asparagus with parmesan. It was very good. I like one pan cooking, one pan to wash is best.
Food Ingredient Recipe Cuisine Leaf vegetable
 

· Registered
Joined
·
264 Posts
I always hated the thought of Yogurt but now I like it as long as I get the stuff with the fruit in it, like peaches and apples or berries. I take it at night along with my Eliquist since the pill is hard on the stomach. I have A-Fib so I have to take the blood thinner.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: Gypsi
1 - 20 of 33 Posts
Top