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An ant for bees, the instructions for which do not promise difficulties in use, always give a positive result. This is a drug that beekeepers cannot do without. It is transparent, has a pungent odor and is used as a disinfectant for bees. Formic acid is found in large quantities in nettles, ants and apiproducts.
The use of formic acid in beekeeping
In the last century, beekeepers, to help bee colonies weakened by parasites, began to use commercially produced citric acid to control pests. The effect of the drug on varroa mites is quite powerful, but harmless to bees and people.
In beekeeping, formic acid is used for preventive purposes. She can prevent damage by ticks, varroatosis. The chemical, when interacting with air, decomposes into water and carbon dioxide, while not in contact with honey. The tool also has no negative impact on the environment.
Vapors of formic acid are used in the following cases:
- fight against acarapidosis, varroatosis of bees;
- preventing the development of foulbrood, ascospherosis, nosematosis;
- cleaning honeycombs from wax moth.
How does formic acid affect mites?
Formic acid has a detrimental effect on the tick. Evaporation of the drug begins to activate at an air temperature of more than 10 oC. A week before the honey harvest, the treatment is stopped.
The tool is endowed with bactericidal and ungicidal properties. By adhering to the treatment scheme, and this is spring and summer, it is possible to achieve a significant reduction in ascospherosis infections.
Preparation Ant
Ant for bees is used for ticks and for prevention – at a time throughout the apiary. They usually start processing in the spring, the second – after the last pumping out of marketable honey.
Composition, form of release
A substance to save bees from mites, includes formic acid at a concentration of 85% and a gel former. Visually, the product is completely colorless. You can buy non-woven acid-permeable bags of 30 g each at the pharmacy. The packaged drug is sold in cans of polymer material. Each container contains 4 bags.
Pharmacological properties
The agent mainly consists of formic acid. Its action is acaricidal and directed against adult parasites Varroa jacobsoni and Acararis woodi. “Ant” has a second class of danger. According to GOST 12. 1. 007-76, the effect of the drug is locally irritating. It acts aggressively on the skin and mucous tissues. Formic acid has a powerful inhalation, toxic effect, but is not poisonous to bees.
The action of the acaricidal preparation on the tick is nerve-paralytic. After activation of the substance, a pestilence of adult parasites is almost immediately noticed. When manipulating in the hive, the beekeeper must observe safety measures.
Instructions for use of the drug Muraviinka
The instructions for use of Ants for bees indicate that:
- the drug is used for medicinal purposes, with the defeat of bees by ticks;
- after the substance from the bags has evaporated, empty packages should be disposed of;
- working with the tool requires caution.
The first thing to do after buying an Ant is to familiarize yourself with the recommendations, contraindications, rules for storage and operation.
Dosage, application rules
Work with Ant with a tick is carried out immediately throughout the apiary. Usually, spring prophylaxis is done after the first inspection of hives that have survived wintering. The second time measures to prevent the development of parasites are carried out after the last pumping of honey – in the fall.
If the disease progresses, the treatment of bee colonies is carried out twice, with an interval of a week. Packages are laid out on the hives. 1 package must be allocated for each family. To do this, break the tightness of the can and lay out the packages with the composition on the upper bars of the frames with honeycombs.
All events are held at a temperature of 10 to 25 °C.
Side effects, contraindications, restrictions on use
The form of the drug recommended for beekeepers to treat the apiary does not negatively affect the life and activity of bees, but there are some contraindications to the use of Ant:
- It is unacceptable to carry out processing at temperatures that do not meet the recommendations.
- If there is no air circulation in the hive, pest control will have to be abandoned until the problem is fixed.
- If the dosage is violated, nervous overexcitation is noticed in the bees, swarming of insects on the hives begins, as a result, their death, including the uterus, is quite possible.
- Treatments for the purpose of treatment are not carried out in bad weather. All manipulations should also be performed in daylight.
The container with the medicine should be opened immediately before use. When an Ant gets on honey, the product is not culled, since the acid in this case does not pose a danger.
Shelf life and storage conditions
If the drug is not planned to be used immediately after purchase, it should be stored in the manufacturer’s original packaging, in a place without excessive humidity.
Treatment of bees with formic acid from a tick
In beekeeping, formic acid treatment is an important measure to help save bees from death. It has a powerful effect on the tick, but in order for the result to be complete, it is necessary to perform the following algorithm of actions:
- cardboard plates (5 mm) with dimensions of 150 by 250 mm are folded into bags and medicine (200 ml) is added;
- cardboard must be thoroughly saturated;
- so that the substance does not evaporate, the bag should be hermetically sealed;
- immediately before placing the packages in the hives, two or three holes are made on each of them;
- packages are placed on the frames, on top of the bee nests, cut down;
- for greater effect, a pair of wooden slats are placed on the bottom of the house;
- before processing, remove the cover and mat from the hive;
- after completing all the steps, all the bees must be fumigated with smoke so that they do not attack during the layout of the medicinal substance.
Formic acid is not safe for humans, therefore, when processing it is worth taking care of your own safety.
When to process
Prevention with formic acid in the fall is usually carried out in September, but you should focus on weather conditions. The best temperature for manipulations is +15 oC. At lower temperatures, any treatments are ineffective.
How to prepare a solution
To prepare a home remedy for bees with the active substance formic acid, you will need the following ingredients:
- plastic household bags – 20×30;
- cardboard strips – 15×25;
- formic acid – 150 – 200 ml.
After the acid is completely absorbed by the cardboard, the bags are hermetically sealed. Before laying in the hive, holes are made in them. The package is placed on wooden slats, holes down. Making an Ant for processing bees at home is not difficult.
How to treat bees with formic acid in autumn
Treatment of bees with formic acid – salvation from troubles.
Autumn processing is usually carried out in one of several ways:
- Some beekeepers pour the substance into vials and place wicks in them. Such designs are hung in bee nests.Important! This method is dangerous and can provoke the death of the swarm.
- The second option involves filling plastic caps with acid. They are placed under the roof.Important! The acid in the lids should not be left in the hive for more than 4 days.
- The safest method that does not cause consequences is Antwing. The preparation is developed taking into account all needs of beekeepers.
Conclusion
An ant for bees, the instructions for which are written taking into account all the nuances of the properties of the substance, are a good help in beekeeping. It is actively used by beekeepers for the prevention and treatment of bees. Formic acid has passed a number of clinical studies and is safe and in demand in beekeeping and medicine.
