I think I have a couple hives with mite problems

[Yankee11]

I have a couple hives that have very spotty capped brood patterns. I was thinking it was the queens failing. But in both hives I noticed that the open larva
patterns look great.

I was researching on mite resistant queens last nite and saw a diagram of bees removing the capped larva that had mites on them. I woke up this morning thinking this has to be the problem. Great looking larva pattern and very spotty capped brood.

I bought one of those Oxalic Acid tools. I think I'll try it on these 2 hives and see if I see a change.

Was getting ready to replace the queens.

On right track?

[blueblood]

I wonder if it is simply just a queen issue?  But, nothing wrong with trial and error.

[Perry]

Before I would get rid of them for a spotty laying pattern, I would provide them with a nice frame of empty comb to see if she is in fact the problem. There can be several reasons for a spotty pattern, including bad comb, getting plugged with incoming nectar pr pollen. She needs a blank canvass in order to paint a true picture.

[Yankee11]

That's what I thought, but I can see the patterns of open larva and they look great.

That's what was puzzling me. I was going to give both queens another week thinking the queens were just building slow. And now they
are getting going. Both hives were really strong last year and now they are just not really doing much.  In fact, they started in spring building up and looking good. Maybe once the brood started getting capped the mites started taking over?

I will put a piece of white plastic under the screened bottom board when I do the treatment and see how many mites fall.

[LazyBkpr]

If you bought a vaporizer then use it. Wait a week and use it again, and at the three week mark as well. THEN watch your brood pattern. If it tightens up the problem is fixed!!!!
   I like the OA Vapor quite a lot.

[Yankee11]

Only thing I have found locally is wood bleach oxalic acid. Is this the same?

[Jen]

Well it sure wouldn't hurt anything to use the oa vaporizer. Start out the spring with a nice clean hive. I love mine!

[Yankee11]

What about Wood Bleach. It says it Oxalic Acid?

Thats all I have found locally so far.

[LazyBkpr]

Yes, that is what it is. OA is simply wood bleach.   There is a recommended purity of the OA which I think was 96.6%   I ordered mine through Amazon. More info on my page and a video of the vaproizer;

  http://outyard.weebly.com/treatments.html

[Yankee11]

This is the one I can get locally.

I have seen this one sold with the vaporizers.

http://floormechanics.com/savogran_wood_bleach_%28oxalic_acid%29_12oz-Savogran-OxalicAcid-12oz.php?gclid=CIK44fmK970CFZRr7AodOGsAJw

Should I try it or just order on line and wait?

[Yankee11]

Just called the company.

They said it was over 99% pure. Should be good to go.

[LazyBkpr]

99% pure is as good as what I use regularly.

[rcannon]

That's the oxalic acid I use, Yankee. I've had great success with it. Wouldn't consider anything else.

[Jen]

Take pics Yankee! especially of the before and after mite kill. I just love seeing those mite buy the farm 

[pistolpete]

I would not do a mite treatment without doing a mite count first.   You should know what your mite levels are before you dive into the treatment so that you can know if the treatment was effective.  I use a natural mite drop of 5 mites/day. averaged over 3 days as a treatment threshold, but everyone had a different idea as to what a treatment threshold should be.

[efmesch]

I wouldn't disagree with the other comments you've received, but would suggest that you might open up the caps of a few freshly closed cells--especially of drones, and see if you can find any varroa inside them on the larvae.  The results might give you an idea of your hive's situation.

[LazyBkpr]

I would not do a mite treatment without doing a mite count first. 

   In every situation Except one, I agree with PP completely..    errr, OK I wont use the first letters of his names like that again again....
   OA Vapor can be applied as needed and often with no reported side effects. One test was done every other day for two weeks, and another test was done once a week for three months. In both cases testing after revealed no concentration of OA in honey, brood, or wax..  how that is possible with such heavy use.. I do not know, but those tests, and the result of finding 0 mites on bees, in drone cells or in the hive at all after the tests sold me. I don't even try to use the vaporizer when there is no brood because that means it is generally COLD and the bees are clustered. the vapor has difficulty getting through the cluster and being effective..    so I use it once a week for three weeks to kill the mites as they emerge in the spring, in Mid August, and a single App in November if we get a 40 + degree day.
   So far, So good... no issues, no worries, NO MITES!!!   I do love my Vaporizer.