It has been 7 days since my last OAV treatment.
I emptied my Freeman Bottom board trays, and added fresh oil. I wanted to do another count tomorrow to see how things were going.
Being the impatient guy I am, I pulled the trays out after only 2 1/2 hours, just to see what was happening. One hive had no mites.
The second hive had accumulated ten mites in just two and a half hours. And I didn't even pull the tray all the way out!
I'll count again tomorrow afternoon, but can only assume there will be more, rather than less mites.
Advice, please:
Do I just assume that the OAV crystals are still active in the hive and doing their job, knocking down freshly emerging mites?
Or do I give the hive a fifth treatment?
Here is a run-down of what I've done so far:
7/21 - 24 hour Mite count under the hive is 16
Treated with OAV
7/22- 24 hour mite count is 17. I decide not to treat again.
8/22 - OAV treatment, replace oil with soapy water.
8/23 - 24 hour mite count is 91 and 1 SHB
8/29 - OAV treatment, replace soapy water.
8/30 - 24 hour mite count is 94 (no shb)
9/5 - OAV treatment, replace soapy water.
9/6 - 24 hour mite count is 154 (no shb)
9/12 - OAV treatment, replace soapy water.
9/13 - 24 hour mite count is 209 (no shb)
9/18 - Replace soapy water with cooking oil. 2 1/2 hours later, the mite count is 10 (no shb)