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FAQ
Check out the bee mite treatment FAQs for quick answers. In the middle of a treatment? Use technical support to get immediate assistance from honeybee health advice. Download manuals, instructions, and the product brochure. You have APIBUZZ on your side no matter where you are.
FAQ
Q:How do I choose between chemical acaricides and organic acids for Varroa treatment?
The choice depends on your priorities:
Chemical acaricides (e.g., pyrethroids like fluvalinate): Opt for these if rapid mite knockdown is critical (e.g., pre-winter preparation), offering >95% efficacy within 48 hours.
Organic acids (e.g., formic/oxalic acid): Ideal for honey flow periods or organic-certified operations, ensuring <0.01ppm residue levels but requiring 3-5x higher dosage and biweekly applications.
Q:Why is alternating between chemical and organic treatments recommended?
Alternation (e.g., pyrethroids in fall + organic acids in winter) minimizes:
Resistance risk: Prevents mites from developing P450 monooxygenase-mediated resistance.
Residue buildup: Reduces chemical accumulation in wax (pyrethroids persist up to 8 weeks).
Operational costs: Balances the higher expense of organic acids with cheaper chemical interventions.
Q:Why do organic acids require higher application frequency?
Organic acids degrade faster (7-day biodegradation >90%) and lack residual activity.
For example:
Formic acid: Requires evaporation devices, applied twice weekly.
Oxalic acid: Effective only via trickling or sublimation, with 3-5 treatments per season.
Q:How to solve the problem of pyrethroid pesticide residues?
Pyrethroids (e.g., fluvalinate, flumethrin) mainly have residue in beeswax and have a minor effect on honey:
Accumulation Dynamics:
• Lipophilic properties lead to 12–15% residue retention in wax combs.
• Repeated use causes cumulative buildup, which may exceed EU limits (3.2 mg/kg) within 3 treatment cycles.
Potential impact:
• Chronic exposure may impair larval development (30% higher mortality at >5 mg/kg).
Mitigation Strategies:
Organic acid treatment: Using a 3:1 formic acid + lactic acid spray (total concentration 50%) to treat contaminated beeswax (fluvalinate residue at 3.5 mg/kg). Results: After 7 days, the residue level decreased to 1.2 mg/kg (degradation rate of 65%), whereas the degradation rate in the formic acid-only treatment group was 50%.
Annual Wax Replacement: Replace ≥30% of old honeycombs yearly to reduce residue loads.
Alternative Materials: Adopt plastic foundations or certified organic wax for queen-rearing colonies.
Detoxification: For heavily contaminated wax, melt and filter with activated carbon (removes 60–70% pyrethroids).
Residue Testing: Use HPLC analysis pre-harvest; discard wax exceeding 2 mg/kg (safety buffer below EU limits).
Integrate pyrethroid-free "clean honeycomb cycles" every 3 years to reset residue levels.
