Api-Bioxal - Oxalic acid for varroa treatment in Bees - 31 g - VETO-PHARMA

Api-Bioxal - Oxalic acid for Varroa treatment in Bees - 31 g - VETO-PHARMA

Apibioxal Powder 31g - Varroa Oxalic Acid Treatment

Apibioxal 31g is a soluble veterinary acaricide based on oxalic acid. It effectively treats varroosis in bees during the winter period.

An effective solution against Varroa destructor infestation

Why choose Apibioxal oxalic acid for your hives?

Modern beekeeping faces constant health challenges. Among them, the mite Varroa destructor represents the main threat to colony survival. Indeed, this parasite weakens bees and transmits deadly viruses. To fight this scourge, laboratoire DESTAING offers Apibioxal 31g. It is a veterinary medicine recognised for its high efficacy.

This product contains oxalic acid dihydrate. This organic molecule is a natural component of honey. However, at high concentration, it becomes a formidable acaricide. This treatment is used mainly in winter. At that time, the hive contains little or no brood. Thus, the product directly reaches the varroa mites present on adult bees (phoretic varroa).

Choosing this 31g format allows precise management of small apiaries. Moreover, it guarantees optimal freshness of the product at each opening. Both professional and amateur beekeepers favour this solution. It fits perfectly into a considered strategy for controlling varroosis.

The composition of Apibioxal and its acaricidal action

The soluble powder Apibioxal acts by direct contact with the parasites. Oxalic acid penetrates the mite's cuticle. It then causes fatal acidosis in the parasite. The bee, for its part, tolerates this substance well when correctly dosed. The product comes in the form of a fine white powder.

This specific formulation allows two distinct application methods. On one hand, the beekeeper can use the trickle method. This method requires preparing a syrup. On the other hand, sublimation (or vaporisation) is also possible. This technique requires a suitable heating device. In both cases, the treatment aims to clean the colony before the resumption of spring egg-laying.

The efficacy of oxalic acid strongly depends on the absence of capped brood. Indeed, the molecule does not pass through wax cappings. Consequently, varroa mites hidden in the cells escape treatment. This is why the timing of the intervention remains crucial. Application outside the brood period ensures an efficacy rate above 95%.

The advantages of this varroa treatment in a 31g sachet

Using Apibioxal offers multiple benefits for the health of your livestock:

• Proven efficacy: Oxalic acid massively eliminates phoretic varroa mites in winter.
• Application versatility: The product can be used by trickling or by sublimation depending on your equipment.
• Practical format: The 35g sachet is perfectly suited to beekeepers with a few hives.
• Veterinary safety: This medicine holds a Marketing Authorisation (AMM).
• Honey preservation: Used correctly outside honey flow periods, it leaves no problematic residues.
• Fast action: The drop of varroa mites can be observed quickly after application of the product.

Special warnings

To guarantee optimal efficacy of the veterinary medicine, it must imperatively be administered in the absence of brood, or when brood is present at a minimal level in the colony. Indeed, oxalic acid does not diffuse through wax: it therefore does not reach varroa mites located in capped brood. The presence of brood thus greatly reduces the efficacy of the treatment. Consequently, it is recommended to apply the medicine during the winter period, or after an intervention aimed at interrupting egg-laying during the summer season (for example caging the queen), in order to obtain a colony free of brood.

Regarding summer treatments carried out after caging the queen, the best results are observed when this period lasts at least 25 days, the time needed for the colony to become totally free of brood.

Finally, even when correctly applied, the treatment does not always allow already very weakened colonies to be saved: a significant varroa infestation may have caused irreversible damage compromising their survival.

Frequently asked questions about oxalic acid

What is the effective treatment against varroa with oxalic acid?

The most effective treatment based on oxalic acid is the one carried out in the total absence of brood. Apibioxal 31g is specifically formulated for this use. Indeed, oxalic acid only kills varroa mites attached to adult bees. If brood is present, most of the mites are protected under the cappings. Efficacy then drops drastically. To maximise the effect, beekeepers often treat in winter, between November and January. An outdoor temperature between 5°C and 10°C is ideal for trickling. This allows the bees to form a loose cluster, favouring the circulation of the product.

When to treat with oxalic acid after sublimation?

The question often concerns the frequency or follow-up after a treatment. As a general rule, a single application of oxalic acid per winter is enough if done properly. Sublimation (vaporisation) has the advantage of being repeatable if necessary, unlike trickling. However, overdosing must be avoided. If you are referring to mite-drop monitoring, you should count the varroa mites on the greased tray. The maximum drop occurs in the days following treatment. There is no immediate "treatment after sublimation". One waits until spring to resume monitoring or to apply strips if infestation rises again. Oxalic acid is a winter "knockout" treatment.

What is the best time to use Apibioxal?

The optimal time to use Apibioxal is during the "broodless" period. In most regions, this corresponds to December or January. At this time, the queen stops laying due to the cold. The entire varroa population is then found on the bees. This is the ideal window. Furthermore, it is possible to artificially trigger an interruption in egg-laying during the season by caging the queen. In this specific case, oxalic acid can be used in summer or autumn. However, winter use remains the norm for this type of packaging.

Is Apibioxal approved for organic beekeeping?

Oxalic acid, the active substance in Apibioxal, is generally compatible with organic beekeeping specifications. It is an organic substance naturally present in the environment. However, regulations may evolve or vary depending on the certifying bodies. It is therefore essential to check with your organic certification body. Moreover, use must be part of an established veterinary control plan. The absence of persistent chemical residues in wax and honey makes it a preferred ally for beekeepers concerned about the environment.

To find out more about varroa destructor

• Larger size product: Apibioxal Powder 156 g and Apibioxal 312 g for larger apiaries.
• Parent category: Apiculture and Bee Care
• Subcategory: Varroa destructor Treatment