Treating Bees for Mites - Cleaning the Equipment and Staying Safe
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ต.ค. 2024
- In this video I show how I use my Instantvap and Instantvap Compact Vaporizers to kill mites fast. I have also been asked about the mask I wear and how I clean the Instantvap Machines. I provide answers to those questions here.
Here is a recent video where I introduce the Instantvap Compact and compare it with the original unit: • Latest Greatest Mite K...
Check out the Instantvap vaporizers here: lorobbees.com/...
RZ Mask: rzmask.com
#brucesbees #instantvap #varroamites
Hi Bruce! Nice video. One note: when cleaning, make sure that no water goes outside of the tube where the dispenser fits, as the insulation around the heated chamber can get wet, and that can fail the tool. That is the most common faliure that happens. That is why the celaning cup is a good way to clean it. Or use a bottle with a "beek style", so it is more sure that the water will go where you want. Happy New Year!
Good to know. Thanks. I am not familiar with the cleaning cup. I guess I need to find out more about it.
The Cleaning cup works like a charm, the steam cleans out instantvap and I have noticed the instantvap works like it was New.
I have used the caps, they are pretty tough to keep in place while cleaning, almost to point of being dangerous. I now pour in a small amount of water and immediately place the plunger in its place and hold it down. I need to see if the company has a video on cleaning.
@@brycehanson6750they do on youtube
Yes you need to wear some protective gloves to hold the cap in place, there is video done by the InstantVap on how to use the cap. I use my leather garden gloves which works like a charm.
bruce,as you hold the cap with other hand,,(prevents popping off)....get the pink high temp silicone caps, let cool a bit flip tool only about half cap full ,....way less mess and steams the bowl clean,im sure he'll have them at nahbe...😅
Those cordless vaps sure are tempting! Maybe when I grow a bit more.
They are definitely awesome, but pricy.
Not running a cord is amazing!!
Can't wait to get one of theses. Looking forward to meeting you at BEE 🐝 EXPO 😊
Bruce you look like a ninja 🥷 beekeeper!! Great video!!! See you in a few days.😊
lol. See you soon my friend!
Thanks Bruce, Happy New Year, Roll Tide !!
Thank you, you too, and Roll Tide!
Great Stuff! I see you got a new bee buggy. Have a great new year!
Yeah man. It’s very nice. The nicest vehicle I have ever owned. I’m almost scared to use it! 🐝😎
Thanks Bruce!! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you as well!
Thanks for the tips Bruce, Now you need to get inside and watch Alabama win the Rose Bowl. RTR!
Yes! I have it on. About to kick it off! I’m nervous as heck. Roll Tide!!! 🐘🏈😎
Hi Bruce, serious question here- what is your experience with Peppermint candy for hive beetles? Just wondering if it works?
I used them a little bit but not enough to get a good feel for their effectiveness.
I have a question. My bees were getting attacked by a rival hive, how many days will they keep this up. It started mid day yesterday till bedtime for the bees, but they came back this morning. Luckily I had locked my girls in so no one got hurt. How long can I expect this to happen?
Sounds like they are being robbed. I would reduce the entrance way down. And maybe you could set some open feed out a ways away from the hives to keep them busy.
Where did you get that veil? I like the design.
Humble Bee
Sweet!!! Double trouble for varroa destructor!!!!!
Yes!
If you have hard water I think it is a good idea to use distilled water to prevent mineral build up. If you run a dehumidifier you have free distilled water in the tank.
Thanks for the tip. Hadn’t even thought of that.
Is the mask organic acid safe? It just looks like a fancy N95. I read what i could on the package, didn’t see anything about organic acids.
Go to RZMask.com and look at the different filters. In the past it did say it was effective against organic acids. Now it says organic fumes I believe. Has worked for me but like I said in the video I am not recommending this mask. Just showing what I use because I have had some questions about it.
@@brucesbees yeah I spoke before i finished the video. Im glad you addressed that though.
I also wipe mine down with baking soda water to neutralize the acids afterwards.
That is a good idea.
Bruce, will this be the last treatment before spring?
Not sure. Will have to do some evaluation and mite counts. I want to knock them out before spring if possible.
Bruce, you are really making it difficult to say no as I'm so tempted to get a new instavap at the expo now. But I'm needing a new extractor more than I do a new vaporizer, and my yards are close enough to electric outlets that my Lorob bees OAV corded unit works well enough for the time being. But maybe next year...
Yeah it’s a big expense. And if close to an outlet then that makes sense. It is a bit faster than the corded version but maybe not enough to be worth the price. Just have to justify it economically. It is so convenient though.
How do you keep the fire ants and other ants from invading your hives since they are so close to the ground? I have had a sugar ant problem in one of my hives and I kept it on two stacks of cinder blocks. Thinking I may need to make a better system 😂
Honestly I haven’t had much of a problem with ants. Fire ants seem to play nice with honey bees. The sugar ants can be a problem but I have only seen them really create problems time or two.
Hi Bruce!
Off topic, but I noticed you have some Apimaye hives on pallets. How does that work out for you? Do they fit normally on regular 4-way pallets?
Wishing you and your family a happy and prosperous 2024!
Kent Meredith
No. These are just standard pallets. The Apimayes really are not designed for pallets.
In a season, when do you start treating with OA vapour ?and how frequently ?
And what dosage for your doubles?
Preferably when broodless but since they never really go completely broodless here now is the best time. I use 4 grams for singles and doubles and 2 grams for nucs. I try to treat at least once a weeks for 3 to 4 weeks. Would be better if I could go a little more frequent but just unable with my full time job. Would like to treat every 4 days for 4 to 5 rounds but just can’t get it done.
I did 4 grams per box, and I do 8g per double. Bees did great!! 2 rounds so far in 2 weeks roughly. Bees were out flying yesterday on a sunny 46-degree day.
@AmericansBee that sounds like a good plan!
Do you like the compact over the other?
Yes. I like the simplicity of it. It also has a few improvements in design and fits into a wider variety of hive entrances etc. But overall quality, speed and functionality is very similar. If I had to choose right now I would go with the Compact. But if is already had the other one I would be perfectly satisfied with it. The reason I bought it was because I thought it would be nice to have and also speed up my treatments. Which has proved to be true so far.
👍
Hey Sir
I've heard very varying success from different beekeepers regarding OAV in my area in California's Central Valley and am trying to dial in a treatment program for expansion of my apiary next year with the goal to be able to broker my hives for Almond Pollination February of 2025.
I currently only have 3x Queenright hives left after doing a late Formic Pro Treatment in October which pushed 2x hives to queen less-ness and after doing some research feel very strongly that incorporating a Formic Acid treatment of some sort into a Management Program would be a good step in the right direction.
After thinking about it I was curious if you knew anyone with a vaporizer or had tried yourself to vaporize formic acid liquid and apply it the same way as OAV with a vaporizer to a hive for treatment
Hope to hear back soon
Best
Garrison Quinn
Central Valley California
I have never heard of doing that and to be honest Formic is such a strong treatment I would be afraid that it might be a bit too powerful if vaporized in such a manner. But hi story have never even thought about this method.
Hi Bruce
Were they provided for free by Lorob Bees or did you actually purchase these?
If so it would be good to mention this when you promote a product.
I purchased both of the units.
I believe I did mention it in the first video on the compact. But this video was more about cleaning the unit and the mask.
I paid full price for the first one and got a good deal on the second one. But between the units and batteries I have put a lot of money into this set up.
How many grams per hive?
I use 4 grams on the singles and doubles and 2 grams on the nucs.
Works for me
I like your mask that might work better with my beard.
Might be worth a try. As I mentioned I catch a whiff sometimes but overall it does a the trick.
When i was in the factory,the rule was 2 days of facial growth with 3M masks. If more you went and shaved.
@@vincegagnier3550 well seeing as I'm not gona shave I guess I'll stick with what I got.😁
@@dcsblessedbees 99% sure that mask is not protecting from anything other than him not smelling it. Emphysema ain’t no joke, so I would definitely stick with 3m. Might as well just do it the Ian Steppler way and not even bother. Just make sure you’re upwind.
Trust me it is doing something. And on what do you base your statement of 99% confidence that the mask is ineffective. The carbon filter actually forms to the face quite well. But maybe it is not as good as the 3M. If I could find a 3M mask that fit my egg head halfway decent and didn’t fog up my glasses then I might give it a try.
Like used under a welding helmet 😂
Hi Mr. Bruce, can you please be my montor