What is an Apivar strip?
Apivar is a polymer strip that is used to treat Varroa mites. Apivar is the only product of its kind to treat active Varroa mite infestations, as well as killing off future generations. In only one application, it can kill up to 99% of mites.
When should Apivar strips be installed?
When to treat Apivar strips work best in the early Spring (2 months before the start of the honey season) and the Fall. Since you have to take the honey supers off of the hive, using the strips in the Fall can be difficult.
How long do you leave Apivar strips in the hive?
Suspend Apivar strips in the brood chamber so bees can walk on both sides of the strips. Leave strips in the hive for a minimum of 42 days, and then remove.
Can you leave Apivar strips in all winter?
Apivar is not temperature dependent, so you can insert strips during winter. Apivar is a contact miticide, so the reduced movement within the hive might lessen how effective the treatment will be. You will need to put the strips in the brood frames. If no brood frames, in the cluster.
How many strips are in Apivar box?
Apivar® comes in the form of rigid strips vacuum sealed in sachets containing 10 strips. Because they are rigid they are easy to place in the hive. Apivar® is a contact miticide and the active ingredient, Amitraz, is distributed throughout the hive by bees contacting the strips and then contacting other bees.
Can you feed with Apivar on?
Yes, Apivar does not interfere with feeding in any way (unlike thymol-based products). In fact, feeding increases activity in the colony and therefore increases the spread of active ingredient throughout the hive.
Can you use Apivar in the summer?
When should I treat my hives with Apivar? United States regulations forbid the use of Apivar when honey supers are present. The best times to use Apivar are in the in the spring, before the nectar-collecting period and in the fall season, typically after harvesting in the middle of or end of summer.
Can you use Apivar during honey flow?
It is also not suitable to use it during the honey flow. Studies have shown that Apivar kills 95% of the Varroa Mites in a colony with only one treatment. If you treat with Apivar, you may place Supers on the hive two weeks after treatment removal. You should not use it more than two times per year.
Can I feed with Apivar?
Can I treat a hive with Apivar when feeding my bees? Yes, Apivar does not interfere with feeding in any way (unlike thymol-based products). In fact, feeding increases activity in the colony and therefore increases the spread of active ingredient throughout the hive.
What happens if you leave Apivar strips in too long?
You end up selecting for the more genetically resistant pathogens. Similarly, if you leave Apivar strips in overwinter you’ll be “treating” the remaining mites 6 with a lower dose of the miticide, which is an ideal situation to favour the growth of the slightly more genetically resistant mites.
Does Apivar smell?
apivar has no odor, not something we humans can smell at least. i’m using apivar for late summer treatment and never saw bees becoming agitated.