OA treatment for newly caught swarms?
OA treatment for newly caught swarms?
Is there any specific advice or guidance for treating a newly caught/trapped swarm with OA vaporization this time of year? The obvious goal would be to get a complete mite knockdown while the colony is 100% broodless and before honey supers go on, but I didn't want to do it too soon and disturb the new swarm or cause them to abscond. Is there a "magic" day after catching and hiving them to treat?
Re: OA treatment for newly caught swarms?
Can't answer your question, but put a queen excluder on the bottom board. Then I would blast them the first day I saw larvae, before any cells were capped.
Re: OA treatment for newly caught swarms?
I have done that as soon as I get them home before I place the box on its hive stand. For me too much trouble running extension cords and remembering to do it later. Have not seen any absconds because of this