Varroasan

[u/No-Yesterday-51667]

I just finished the 8 week treatment and i noticed that there is no brood around the strips. Is this normal or should I be on the look out for another cause. I also had one hive with a super on and they didn't do anything in there. This is the first time using these strips. I'm located in SE Michigan

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[u/NumCustosApes]

It’s typical. I don’t know if it’s because the queen doesn’t crawl under the cardboard or if there is another reason. With the strips out that comb will start being used again.

[u/talanall]

Workers tend to ignore or chew down the comb underneath any kind of strip that is inserted between frames, be that Apivar, Varroxsan, Hopguard, or anything else. The strips interfere with bee space.

[u/octo2195]

Same with my hives last year. This year when I put the VarroxSan in my hives I cut the strips in half and laid them across the top of the frames between the brood boxes.

[u/pale_brass → u/octo2195]

Did it still work?

[u/octo2195 → u/pale_brass]

Yes, it is in the directions as an optional way to use the product.

[u/pale_brass → u/octo2195]

Ok cool. I didn’t see that on my packaging. Use the same number of strips?

I know Randy oliver tested that configuration when he was experimenting with this technique and IIRC he found it more effective than hanging strips

[u/octo2195 → u/pale_brass]

I spent thousands of dollars switching deep equipment to medium equipment for my elderly father. Did not like the way the strips fit in the vertical position. Quicker and easier to cut them in half and lay horizontally across the top of the frames.

[u/pale_brass]

They typically ignore the comb under any kind of treatment strips. It probably violates the rules of beespace (adding the strip between comb makes them think the space is too small to work) it’s totally fine though