Formic Acid

Formic Acid Fumigator
Fig. 1. 50% Formic Acid Fumigator standing on edge.

Top View outside dimensions: 18 by 16 1/4 (45.72 x 41.275 cm)
3/8 (1cm) bee way
Aluminum flashing
3/8 (1cm) bee way
Fig. 2. Top View, Outside dimensions: 18 x 16 1/4 (45.72 x 41.275 cm).

18 (45.72 cm)
BEEWAY = 3/8 (0.95 cm)
17 (44.45 cm)
Fig. 3. Bottom View.
Aluminum screen over
16 1/4(41.275 cm)
absorbent pad to keep
bees from removing fibers.
14 3/4 (37.465 cm)

12 1/2 (31.75 cm)
90 ml of 50% FA plus 15 ml HBH,
is mixed and poured onto ellipse
BEEWAY = 3/8 (0.95 cm)
(1.27 cm)
7/8 (2.22 cm)
3/8 (0.95 cm)

Down
Bee Way
ALUMINUM FLASHING
ABSORBENT PAD
SCREEN
Queen Space
Fig. 5. End view detail.
ACTIVATION CAVITY
Black = Al flashing
Blue Absorbent Pad
Red = Al screen
1.25
activation cavity
ACTIVATION CAVITY
Heat from Brood

The space [purple lines] below the Aluminum screen [red]
is critical to the function of the fumigator. Heat from the
brood rises into this activation cavity; the heat
causes the 50% formic acid and HBH to quickly
evaporate, and the bees vigorously fan this formic-HBH
vapor throughout the hive. In three separate experi-
ments (Sep 01,2000) -10 hives each- when 5 or more frames
of brood were present, the temperature in the brood nest was
94 F, in the Activation Cavity - 92 F, and at the entrance -
90 F. By noon the next day, virtually all formic acid
had evaporated and the fumigator was removed. Brood
cells were opened and all mites were dead; no bee brood
were killed; only a very few varroa invading food at the
bottom of the cell were still alive. Fig. 6.
Application:
1. Ambient Temperature should be 60 to 90 F (15.5-32.2 C).
2. Apply treatment between 13:00 & 18:00 (1-6 PM).
3. Manage all brood frames in one or two brood chambers.
4. Add 85 ml (2.8oz) of 50% FA solution to container, then
15 ml (1/2 oz) HBH, mix thoroughly, pour onto absorbent
pad in fumigator. Place above upper brood chamber.
5. Tape all openings shut; if using screened bottom board,
use solid Bottom Board or cover the screen with masonite
plastic or aluminum sheet.
6. Reduce entrance to 3 x 3/8 (7.5 x 1cm) at center.
7. Remove fumigator the next day between 12:00 & 18:00
(noon and 6PM).
In most cases, only one treatment is needed per season. We often go
two seasons between treatments, depending on # of infested brood
cells (and # of incoming mites from dying and/or wild colonies). Fig. 7
Fig. 8. Entrance cleat reduced to 3.5 x 3/8 (7.5 x 1 cm) at the center.
Fig. 8.
Fig. 9. Results of Using the 50% Formic Acid Fumigator: top three pictures show initial
treatment on 09/12/2000. Bottom two pictures show second treatment on 09/28/2000
Old
Style
Fumi-
gator
Test Hive #5 Ricks; 12Sep00. Results Hive #5, Ricks. Close-Up Hive #5, 49 mites.
Second Treatment 13 Days Later:
Ricks Hive #5 30, Sep 2000. Exploded View, 30 Sep 2000, 8 mites.
Video Results of Using
the 50% Formic Acid Fumigator
Video I Video II
Detector Board Demonstration Mite Drop
50% FA Water
90% FA
A simple way to estimate 50% Formic Acid: a cherry tomato sits about 2.5mm
above the surface of 50 % FA (center); sits 4-5 mm above the surface of 90% FA
(left) and sinks in tap water (right) [23 March 2006].
Use Honey-B-Healthy to Prevent Queen Loss
HBH contains spearmint and lemongrass essential oils.
Two teaspoonfuls in a quart of 1:1 sugar syrup delivers a
total of one cc of both essential oils (0.5 cc each).
Because we use the natural emulsifier, lecithin, the essential
oils are evenly distributed throughout the syrup.
Honey-B-Healthy produces rapid build up of bees and (in
our opinion) helps to reduce pathogens. However, Honey-
B-Healthy alone does not significantly reduce mite numbers.
It prevents queen loss when treating with 50% Formic Acid.
It calms the bees. It also helps to introduce queens: spray
The brood frames and queen cage with a little syrup contain-
ing HBH, and the bees will accept the queen in a direct
release with no chance of balling. It also helps to reduce
stings: sprinkle the bees and mix a little on your hands
and watch the difference in bee behavior- - you will get
very few or no stings at all.
Constituents of Lemongrass Oil
Lemongrass oil is purchased From INDIA:
It is distilled from two Tropical Grasses:
Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf
Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees) Stapf.
Constituents: Citral (75-85%)
Methylheptanone
Citronellal
Gerianiol
Limonene
Dipentene
Others?
Lemongrass calms and attracts the bees, much like the Nasanoff Gland.
Constituents of the Honey Bee
Nasanoff Gland:
Pheromone Chemical Function:

Nasanoff Geraniol Orientation
Nerolic Acid "
Geranic Acid "
(E)-Citral "
(Z)-Citral "
(E-E)-Farnesol "
Nerol "
Others? ?
The underlined items are present in HBH.

Why Spearmint Oil?
We tested many essential oils, from menthol and spear-
mint to wintergreen and thymol and many others. Spearmint
had the best results in reducing diseased brood. However,
Honey Bees took sugar syrup with spearmint slowly: taking
a week to consume one quart of 1:1 sugar syrup.
Bob did a lot of research to see if he could keep Spearmint,
and find something to make it more attractive. For some
reason, he tried Lemongrass Oil, and the rest is history.
We have seen colonies take an entire quart of HBH (lemon-
grass + spearmint) in just four hours. Why does spearmint
have an impact on Honeybee health?
This is pure speculation, buta hypothesis
We think it has a parallel mode of action in Honey bees as
to Tamiflu in humans; Tamiflu, oseltamivir, is part of a family
of flu-fighting medicines called neuraminidase
Inhibitors, derived from Shikimic acid, obtained only from the
Chinese Star Anise, Illicium verum Hook f. Magnoliaceae.
Fig. 1.
Typical Results:
1. Varroa Mites are killed in capped brood cells as
well as on the bees.
2. Detector boards show large mite drop for 13-14 days
after treatment (time required for brood emergence).
3. A few varroa mites in newly capped cells survive
the fumigation: they are found with larvae. They
immerse themselves in larval brood food at the
bottom of the cell, and this protects them from the
formic acid.
4. Honey left above the fumigator does not absorb
formic acid, which is dense (sp. gr.= 1.22) and sinks.
Cost for FA treatment using the
Bob Noel Formic Acid Fumigator.
Cost of 15 gallons of 90% FA, about $100 ($142 with deposit).
One gallon of 90%FA = $6.66 ($9.47).
Dilution of 1 gal. to 50%, makes up about 1.8 gallons
(6.81 liters).
@ $6.66/gal. or $6.66/6.8 liters = $0.979 per liter.
One treatment requires 90cc or .09 liters of mix,

(.09*$0.979) = $0.088 (or $0.125) per treatment [cost of FA].
One gallon of 90% FA [$6.66] will make 1.8 gallons
of mix at 50%, = 6.81 liters = 6,810cc/90 = 75.67 treatments.
($6.66 / 75.67 = $0.088 or $9.47/75.67 = $0.125 per treatment)
Source for Formic Acid: Chemicals & Solvents, Inc.,
1140 Industry Ave., SE, Roanoke, VA;
phone: 703-427-4000. They sell a 15 gallon, heavy
plastic drum of 90% FA + $42 drum deposit for $142.
Cost of HBH Concentrate - eliminates Queen Loss
(about 25% in hives treated with FA only.)
A bottle of HBH costs $12.95, = 8 ozs = 237 cc
We add 15cc of HBH per treatment of 90cc of FA,
= 12.95 / (237/15) = 12.95/15.8 doses = $0.82 per hive.
One 8 oz bottle of HBH is sufficient for 15.8 colonies.
One 16 oz bottle of HBH is sufficient for 31.6 colonies.
Cost of Syrup [one quart of 1:1 Syrup]:
Sugar: 1.1 lb/50*24.00 = $0.53/20 = $0.03 per treatment.
Add 20cc HBH to 1 Qt of 1:1 syrup: (20/237)*12.95 = $1.09;
1 Qt of Syrup does 20 hives ($1.09/20) = $.055 each.
Total for HBH-Syrup: $.03 + $.055 = $0.085 per hive.
Total cost of one FA treatment (less labor):
FA $0.088 + HBH $0.82 + Syrup $0.055 = $0.963.
After mixing with HBH, the final concentration of
Formic Acid is about 43%. Fig. 1.
Will the honey bee become
. . . EXTINCT?
Images from the web.

Formic Acid

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Formic Acid

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Formic Acid Fumigator

Fig. 1. 50% Formic Acid Fumigator standing on edge.

3/8 (1cm) bee way

3/8 (1cm) bee way

Fig. 2. Top View, Outside dimensions: 18 x 16 1/4 (45.72 x 41.275 cm).

Aluminum screen over

14 3/4 (37.465 cm)

3/8 (0.95 cm)

Heat from Brood

Second Treatment 13 Days Later:

Pheromone Chemical Function:

The underlined items are present in HBH.

One treatment requires 90cc or .09 liters of mix,

Images from the web.

You might also like