Api-Bioxal - Oxalic acid for varroa treatment in Bees - 156 g - VETO-PHARMA

Api-Bioxal - Oxalic acid for Varroa treatment in Bees - 156 g - VETO-PHARMA

Protect your entire apiary this winter. The Apibioxal 156 g format offers the ideal amount of oxalic acid to treat several dozen colonies simultaneously.

The intermediate format for optimized health management

Adapting anti-varroa control to medium-sized apiaries

When managing an apiary of a certain size, treatment logistics become crucial. The Apibioxal 156 g packaging was designed for multi-active or semi-professional beekeepers. This volume allows you to prepare enough solution to treat a series of hives in a single intervention. This avoids the multiplication of small sachets and the dosing errors associated with them.

The active molecule, oxalic acid, remains the absolute reference for winter cleaning. Its action is decisive in reducing parasitic pressure before the season restarts. By eliminating the last phoretic mites, you give your bees a healthy start in spring. This is an essential step to limit the transmission of viruses that decimate weakened colonies.

This veterinary medicine guarantees a stable and purified composition. Unlike sometimes hazardous homemade preparations, Apibioxal ensures a constant concentration of active ingredient. This is a guarantee of safety for your bees and effectiveness against the parasite Varroa destructor.

Modes of action and preparation of the acaricidal solution

Apibioxal 156 g powder stands out for its high solubility. For trickling application, it mixes easily with sugar syrup (water and sucrose). This method is particularly appreciated for its simplicity of use. It does not require heavy equipment, just a syringe or a dosing gun. The liquid is distributed between the frames, directly onto the bees.

For equipped beekeepers, sublimation is a very effective alternative. The powder is heated by a specific device introduced through the hive entrance. The oxalic acid crystals turn into gas and then recrystallize into fine needles on the entire body of the hive and the bees. This method is very non-invasive for the colony because it does not require opening the frame cover.

Whatever method is chosen, outdoor temperature plays a role. It is recommended to intervene on clustered colonies that are not too tightly contracted. A slightly positive temperature allows better circulation of the vapors or liquid within the cluster without dangerously cooling the emerging brood.

The benefits of the 156 g sachet for your operation

Choosing this intermediate packaging offers technical and economic advantages:

• Controlled cost: A more advantageous price per gram than small individual packages.
• Simplified dosing: Allows for preparing larger volumes of syrup at once.
• Optimal preservation: The aluminized sachet protects the powder from humidity until opening.
• Flexibility: Quantity suited to treat approximately 40 to 50 hives by trickling (depending on dosage).
• High tolerance: Formula designed to minimize toxicity to bees and the queen.

Special warnings

To ensure optimal effectiveness 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 the varroa mites located in capped brood. The presence of brood thus greatly reduces the effectiveness 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 completely free of brood.

Finally, even when correctly applied, the treatment does not always save colonies that are already very weakened: heavy infestation by varroa can have caused irreversible damage compromising their survival.

Frequently asked questions about using Apibioxal 156g

How many hives can be treated with a 156g sachet?

The number of hives treated depends on the application method chosen. For trickling, the standard recommended dosage is often to dissolve the sachet in a precise amount of lukewarm syrup. Generally, a 156g sachet can treat approximately 40 to 50 standard-sized colonies (well-populated 10-frame Dadant type). For sublimation, the dose per hive is often 2 to 3 grams of pure powder. With 156 g, you can therefore theoretically sublimate between 50 and 80 hives. It is crucial to always refer to the exact instructions for the batch to respect the current powder/sugar/water ratios.

Can the syrup-Apibioxal mixture be stored?

Once the Apibioxal powder is mixed with sugar syrup, the solution's stability is limited. It is strongly discouraged to store the prepared mixture for later use. Indeed, oxalic acid in a sugary aqueous solution can degrade and form HMF (Hydroxymethylfurfural), which is toxic to bees. It is best to prepare just the amount needed for the day's round. If you have a surplus, it must be disposed of according to current regulations and not reused several weeks later.

What precautions should the beekeeper take during application?

Oxalic acid is a corrosive and irritating product for the user, especially in its sublimated (gaseous) form. When handling the 175g powder, wearing nitrile gloves, protective goggles, and long-sleeved clothing is essential to avoid skin or eye burns. For sublimation, the respiratory risk is major. The beekeeper must wear a full-face mask with an A2P3 type cartridge or an assisted ventilation mask. The acid cloud is invisible once dispersed but remains dangerous for the lungs. The safety of the applicator is just as important as the health of the bees.

Should all hives in the apiary be treated at the same time?

Absolutely. To avoid the phenomenon of reinfestation (also called "robbing" or "drift" of varroa mites), it is essential to treat all colonies in the same apiary simultaneously. If you only treat a few hives with your 156g sachet and leave others untreated, healthy bees will quickly become reinfested through contact with parasitized neighbors. The overall effectiveness of the fight against Varroa relies on uniform health pressure across the entire herd. This is why this format is ideal for covering an entire apiary in a single work session.

To learn more about varroa destructor

• Smaller size product: Apibioxal Poudre 31g
• Larger size product: Apibioxal Poudre 312g
• Parent category: Apiculture et Soins aux Abeilles
• Subcategory: Traitement Varroa destructor