First use of Api Life VAR

[sprayburn]

This is the first season we have had Varroa counts high enough to need treatment. Our apiary is located just north of lake Jeanette in Guilford Co. and has 4 hives. We installed the first treatment of Api Life VAR pads according to the package instructions, (Each pad cut in to quarters and placed in the corners of the brood boxes. That is one pad per brood box with two brood boxes per hive.)

I have tried to show pictures of what I am about to describe, but am not sure if the pics will work. What we see is severe bearding at both entrances (upper and lower). Is this normal?


http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af2 ... 164243.jpg
http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af2 ... 164150.jpg

[Jacobs]

I'm not sure how much you used per hive. My understanding is that there are 2 wafers per envelope. I haven't used it in the last 2 years, but when I did, I never put more than 1 wafer (1/2 of one pack) into a hive per application. The bees don't like the stuff, but I did not have the amount of bearding that your photos show. I did have bearding on some of the hives.

[Wally]

Mite-a-way will do that. I don't know about api-life.


http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,42736.0.html

[mike91553]

The label says one section on top of the hive and repeat after 7-10 days for 3 treatments.

You used 2x the label rate. I would give them some extra ventilation asap.