Beekeeping Through the Eyes of a Biologist
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Effect of OAV on the Rearing of Brood Ernie Daley and Randy Oliver First published in ABJ June 2024 I have used OAV (oxalic acid vaporization) for varroa control for over ten years and have wondered whether (1) the treatment could be applied proactively prior to the introduction of package bees, and (2) whether […]
Read MoreContents My Preliminary Findings 1 Preparation. 2 Application. 4 Colony Response to the Treatment 6 Final Inspection. 13 Effect Upon Varroa. 15 Is it Worth Preparing Your Own?. 15 Remaining Questions to Answer 15 There’s a Reason that EPA Registers Miticides! 16 Citations and Notes 16 Extended-Release Thymol Blocks Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in […]
Read MoreContents Formic Vapors and their distribution. 1 Experiment #1: Applying Formic Pro on the bottom board, with a temporary top entrance. 2 Results. 5 Experiments on queen loss due to formic. 6 Experiment #2: Can you remove, and then reintroduce the queen?. 7 Experiment #3: Is it the formic or the bees that kill the […]
Read MoreContents A Large Field Research Project 1 Materials and Methods 2 Experimental design. 2 Surface Area of the Treatments 4 Justification for the Ratios Tested. 4 The Test Colonies 4 The Matrices 7 Dose applied to the bees 13 Results. 14 Summary of my interpretation of the chart 16 Discussion. 16 Musing on other studies […]
Read MoreContents The Fabrics to Test Preparation A Field Trial Results Discussion TESTING COTTON MATRICES FOR OAE Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in ABJ January 2023 I continue to look for improved methods for application of extended-release oxalic acid (OAE), and thought that perhaps there might be an inexpensive, fully biodegradable all-cotton fabric that […]
Read MoreContents Extended-release thymol 1 The optimal release rate and placement of thymol 1 What’s The Optimal Dose?. 2 Our Field Testing. 3 The Dose-Response Curve. 12 Discussion. 12 Citations and notes 13 Thymol — A new application method? Part 2 First published in ABJ in December 2022 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com I do a […]
Read MoreContents “Off-Label” use of thymol 4 Thymol products for varroa control 5 Understanding Thymol 6 Reaction to the delivery matrix by the bees 6 Thymol in Shop Towels. 7 Removal and dispersion of thymol matrices by the Bees 9 Extended-Release Thymol?. 11 A Thicker Matrix. 11 moving ahead to 2022. 15 Citations and notes 15 […]
Read MoreContents Hard “Flash Treatment” vs Slow-Release. 1 Flash Treatments 1 Extended-Release Application. 2 our Follow-up experiments. 3 But Did the Wrapped Strips Kill Mites?. 8 Discussion. 9 Citations and Notes 9 Formic Pro in Hot Weather — Slowing the Rate of Vapor Release Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com First published in ABJ in October 2022 […]
Read MoreContents Formic for mite management 1 A trick for using formic pro on weak colonies 2 Queen loss in hot weather 5 Why would queens be more susceptible to formic than workers?. 6 A test of queen loss in tiny colonies. 7 Taking advantage of opportunity. 10 Trial #1 — Would foil covers reduce queen […]
Read MoreContents An additional test of matrices and OA:gly ratios. 1 Cardboard Strips vs. Sponges. 3 Compostability of spent sponges. 3 A winter field trial 4 Methods. 5 Results. 9 Discussion. 11 The Elephant in the Room.. 12 Reality Check. 12 A possible easy solution for getting us legal 13 Citations and notes. 15 […]
Read MoreExtended-release oxalic acid for varroa management This method of application of oxalic acid is not yet approved by the EPA, so the instructions below are intended only for researchers having Pesticide Research Authorizations, Experimental Use Permits, or other permissions from their State Lead Agencies. FYI, the EPA does not require an Experimental Use Permit to […]
Read MoreBeekeeper-funded Research A Test of Thermal Treatment for Varroa Part 2 First published in ABJ April 2021 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com Last month I covered the theory of using thermal treatment (hyperthermia) to control varroa, and some of the designs of devices on the market. I’d like to now answer some questions regarding thermal treatment. I […]
Read MoreBeekeeper-funded Research A Test of Thermal Treatment for Varroa: Part 1 First published in ABJ March 2021 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com Last month I wrapped up the report on my testing of mite treatments suitable for application during a honey flow. A number of beekeepers have also asked me about using thermal treatment. I found […]
Read MoreCrystals from oxalic acid vaporization on bees’ bodies Randy Oliver February 2020 In order to determine how OA crystals settled on bees’ bodies after an OA vaporization, I set a graduated microscope slide and a number of dead bees under a 16-oz inverted plastic cup. I injected OA vapor briefly into a hole at the […]
Read MoreMite Control While Honey is on the Hive Part 4 First Published in ABJ February 2021 Randy Oliver ScientificBeekeeping.com In the three previous articles in this series, I showed the results of my field trial of summer mite treatments. Now let’s go a little further with extended-release oxalic acid (OAE). A Note on […]
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