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This official factsheet describes the use of the FAM dispenser with Formivar 70% and focuses on protective measures, required equipment, key points, and a clearly structured procedure. It specifically emphasizes that formic acid (Formivar) is highly corrosive and must be handled with great care. For details and the complete instructions, the factsheet is considered the authoritative reference.

Oxalic acid is harmful to health. Vapours or dusts of this acid must not be inhaled or come into contact with the skin. It must be handled with the greatest caution. In all cases, protective goggles, acid-resistant rubber gloves, an FFP3 protective mask and long-sleeved clothing must be worn.

During treatment, make sure not to stand in the oxalic acid cloud. Colonies must be treated from the outside (not inside the bee house). As it is impossible to completely avoid contact with the vapours, we recommend wearing a half mask or a full-face mask equipped with an activated charcoal filter. This provides effective protection. Attention: filters have an expiry date and must always be stored in a sealed plastic bag.

The formation of a young colony using a nucleus with consolidated brood reduces swarming and lowers varroa pressure in production colonies. Young colonies are formed from brood frames taken from several strong and healthy colonies, from which frames are repeatedly removed in May/June—predominantly capped brood (each time one brood frame per colony).

American foulbrood is a bacterial disease. Under optimal conditions, the bacteria multiply by cell division. When conditions become unfavourable, spores are formed that remain infectious for decades. These highly infectious spores are distributed within the colony in the brood nest through the cleaning and maintenance activities of worker bees. Infection by spores occurs via the royal jelly on which larvae feed during the first 48 hours of their life. Adult bees are not infected but can act as carriers of the pathogen. A completely dried larva forming a crust may contain more than 2 billion spores.

The evaluation or selection of colonies does not concern breeders alone; it is also important for every beekeeper from the perspective of bee health. As a preventive measure, the ultimate aim is to retain only healthy and strong colonies within an apiary. This selection applies both to productive colonies and to young colonies.

The midday nucleus is a specific type of nucleus. It is suitable for strong colonies and can be used with all types of hives. It is not necessary to locate the queen in order to form a midday nucleus.

Weekly inspections during the swarming period make it possible to identify colonies in a swarming state and to divide them at the optimal time. This helps to avoid the capture or loss of swarms. Using the method described below, colonies are multiplied in a “natural” way.

The washing method can be applied throughout the year to dead colonies. It also makes it possible to determine whether varroa was the probable cause of bee mortality.

All colonies in an apiary—whether production colonies or young colonies—should be strong and dynamic. This significantly reduces the risk of disease and offers not only better yield prospects but also requires less investment of time and money.

For this reason, small but healthy colonies should be maintained by combining them in spring or autumn with a stronger colony. This regrouping also increases the propensity for honey flow in spring and allows for a safe replacement of the queen within the colonies. In late autumn, when the bees have already formed their winter cluster, a colony should comprise at least five well-filled frames. If this is not the case, the colonies must be combined. A strong colony has much better chances of surviving the winter.

Oxalic acid is harmful to health. Vapors or dust from this acid must not be inhaled and must not come into contact with the skin. It must be handled with the greatest caution. In all cases, protective goggles, acid-resistant rubber gloves, an FFP3 protective mask, and long-sleeved clothing must be worn. 

During treatment, ensure that you are not positioned within the oxalic acid cloud. Colonies must be treated from the outside (not inside the pavilion). As it is impossible to completely avoid contact with the vapors, we recommend wearing a half mask or a full-face mask equipped with an activated charcoal filter. This provides adequate protection. Attention: filters have an expiration date and must always be stored in a sealed plastic bag.

The concept based on caging the queen for one brood development cycle aims to allow the brood produced before caging to emerge and to remove and destroy the new brood produced during the caging period. The trap comb method does not involve the direct use of varroacides, as it reduces the number of mites present in the colony to about 20%. Acids are used only for the subsequent summer and winter treatments.