Using the Trickle Method with Oxalic Acid
THE TRICKLE METHOD
FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN USING THE “TRICKLE” OXALIC ACID TREATMENT
The final treatment of the colonies in autumn or early winter is a
component of many anti-Varroa treatment regimes. The aim is to
reduce the Varroa infestation level to an absolute minimum, so that in
the following season there is no problem with Varroa before the late
summer.
This procedure has proved itself to be effective in beekeeping
practice. It is one method of anti Varroa treatment which does not
cause residues in the hive products, oxalic acid is a organic
substance. The treatment is carried out after the colony has ceased
to rear brood. In this brood free condition one treatment is sufficient to achieve an effectiveness of
over 90%.
Many strong colonies with older queens cease to rear brood in October. In nucleus colonies with
young queens this is seldom the case. This might possibly be due to their development phase only
ending in late summer, while the older stronger colonies have already reached their peak of
development by June. Brood rearing in autumn is influenced by apiary location, but more so by the
weather. The first night frosts cause the queen to stop egg laying. Three weeks later the colony is
brood free. At this time the oxalic acid trickle method is at it’s most effectiveness. The removal of
the hive roof and crown board to facilitate the treatment has no detrimental effect on the bees.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRICKLE METHOD
The treatment is carried out using a warm sugar syrup solution at an oxalic acid concentration of
3.5% applied using a syringe or some other suitable device. The procedure should be carried out in
such a manner that it can be administered in a droplet form.
Warm tap water may be used to make up the solution.
The solution should be stored for immediate use only, in a bottle with a secure top and clearly
marked as to the contents. Any calcium in the water will combine with the oxalic acid and
precipitates as insoluble calciumoxalate crystals. The effect on concentration of the solution will be
negligible. The addition of sugar to the solution will merely result in a more rapid mite fall, it has no
effect on the efficiency or bee tolerance and does no harm. During the treatment the weather must
be cold, a few degrees above freezing is ideal. Smoke should be used only sparingly, if at all as the
colonies are clustered tightly due to low temperature.
The colonies cluster under a deep crown of stores in November/ December. The treatment of
colonies on single brood chambers is relatively easy since the cluster position
can be seen. In the case of double brood chambers it is often more difficult,
especially if the bees are clustered in the lower box. The use of a torch may
expose the position of the cluster or the top box may be tipped up. In this way
the treatment can be trickled into and not onto the cluster. It is best to take a
little care and time when treating. It is better to do two passes over each frame
space. The more bees which are in contact with the solution the better the treatment will be
tolerated and the solution will be more readily distributed around the colony. It is a good idea to
note the number of seams of bees as soon as the hive is opened and the bees are tight clustered.
As treatment proceeds the cluster tends to break up, and you have more seams of bees than was
first noticed. Treat for the number of seams first noticed, but spread the acid over as many bees as
possible.
According to the size of the colony the dose varies between 30-50 millilitres. 30 millilitres if the
colony is tightly clustered in temperatures under or at 0ºC and only covering 4-5 frames, 50
millilitres when the cluster is on six or seven frames.
The treatment must only be administered once.
Repeated applications are not tolerated well by the bees. Large numbers of bees will become over
acidified and fly prematurely and not show as mortality on the hive floor. In colonies free of brood a
second treatment would be superfluous anyway.
The mite fall resulting from the late treatment should be noted The mite drop continues to increase
over a four to five week period, even when most of the poisoned mites (80%) drop during the first
week after treatment
THE TRICKLE METHOD AT A GLANCE
1. A 3.5% solution of oxalic acid and sugar. (200 g sugar 35g oxalic acid “Accurate
measurements please” dissolved in 3/4 litre of warm water, then more warm water added to
the solution to make a 1 litre total quantity).
2. 100 mIll syringe.
3. Acid proof gloves (important!)
4. Each colony is dosed with 30 to 50 ml. of solution at a dosage of five to six ml. Per Occupied
frame space. (seam)
5. Treatment is in November or December at just above 0°C. Try to administer when there is
some weather coming up that will enable them to fly and relieve themselves Administer
treatment in as many droplets of solution as possible and drip onto as many bees as
possible. (Do not shake or squirt solution onto bees!)
6. Mite fall continues for four to five weeks.
7. Good efficiency only in brood free colonies.
8. Two applications is one too many.