8
9
1. Appliance
The VARROX
®
-Vaporiser consists of a heater, a metallic-
support and 3 m of cable with 2 battery-clips. It has an
output of 150 W. The power source can be an accumu-
lator (car battery, 12 volt, 12 ampere, capacity > 40 Ah).
2. Mode of action
Oxalic acid dihydrate is added to the pan, then the ap-
pliance is inserted through the entrance of the hive. As a
result of the heating action of the pan, the oxalic acid lique-
fies and vaporises. Oxalic acid vapour fills the hive and all
the bees and surfaces are then covered with a very thin la-
yer of oxalic acid crystals. These fine crystals are tolerated
well by the bees, but have a deadly effect on varroa mites.
3. Treatment
3.1 Time
The use of the VARROX
®
-Vaporiser is particularly suita-
ble for the follow up treatment in
broodless colonies
(see
5. Concept of control).
The treatment should not be made during heavy bee flight.
The temperature should not be below + 4 °C
. Especial-
ly in honeydew areas the last cleansing flight should not
date back more than four weeks. A cleansing flight should
then be awaited.
3.2 Dosage
*One spoon filled loose and without pressing, corresponds to
one gram Oxalic acid-dihydrate. Each VARROX
®
-Vaporiser
is supplied with a measuring spoon.
3.3 Placing the VARROX
®
-Vaporiser
The appropriate amount of oxalic acid-dihydrate is placed
into the VARROX
®
-Vaporiser. Afterwards, the appliance
is inserted
through the entrance of the hive right below
the cluster of the bees
until the metallic support is fully
inside. It must not be used at close range of wax or bees
(minimum distance 2 cm).
If the insertion through the entrance is not possible becau-
se of the construction of the hive, use the opening of the
diagnosis drawer where possible.
Attention:
The VARROX
®
-Vaporiser reaches temperatures
of up to 400°C. It can create patches of heat on the hive
bottom and frames if used for too long or too close to
the hive. This can be avoided by using a sheet metal or
wooden board below the pan.
Caution with synthetic hives and plastified varroa
screens:
With hives or varroa screens made of synthetic
material, an isolation platter (minimum 4 mm thick) must
be put under the appliance.
Hint:
Depending on the height of the entrance and the
bottom of the hive, we recommend that the VARROX
®
-
Vaporiser is fitted in evenly by bending down both sides
of the metallic support a few millimetres. The distance
between the bottom of the hive and the heating element
can be increased and the source of the heat is taken off
the bottom.
3.4 Sealing up the hive
Seal the whole entrance (or diagnosis drawer) around the
handle of the VARROX
®
-Vaporiser using strips of foam or
cloth. Open floors or other openings should be shut tightly
over the whole surface.
3.5 Duration of the treatment
After the hive is sealed up, the vaporiser should be con-
nected to a car battery (12 V) for
2
1/2
minutes
.
One of the battery-clips of the cable can be constantly
connected with the source of power using the contact
of the second clip to switch the appliance on and off. It
makes no difference which clip is connected to the plus-
terminal - the function of the heating is not reduced.
After disconnecting
the VARROX
®
-Vaporiser,
wait for 2
minutes
before the appliance is pulled out, so that the
oxalic acid-vapour can settle. Once removed, ensure that
the entrance of the hive is shut tightly again and is
left
shut for another 10 minutes
.
After taking out the VARROX
®
-Vaporiser, it should be
cooled in a bucket of water, so that with the next use, no
vaporisation begins before the appliance is inserted into
the hive.
4. Oxalic acid-dihydrate (Oxalic acid-crystals)
Oxalic acid is an unhealthy, toxic and corrosive substance.
When filling the VARROX
®
-Vaporiser and during the treat-
ment, it is absolutely necessary to
wear protective glasses,
a protective mask FFP3, gloves and long-sleeved clothes
.
4.1 Purchase of oxalic acid-dihydrate
For the treatment, oxalic acid-dihydrate (C2H2O4 x 2
H2O) CAS-No. 6153-56-6, EG-No. 205-634-3 has to
be used.
Normally available in pharmacies.
4.2 Purchase of oxalic acid-dihydrate/Handling of
oxalic acid
Oxalic acid can cause damage to health with both skin
contact and if swallowed. Avoid contact with eyes and
skin. Vapours and dusts of the oxalic acid should not be
inhaled. Keep oxalic acid out of the reach of children.
Oxalic acid must be stored in its original container (with
law-concurring labelling) in a safe place. In the case of
eye contact, immediately wash the acid out with water. If
ingested consult a physician immediately.
Working safety during and after the treatment
• With treatments of apiaries in the open, take care that
the wind blows any escaping oxalic acid away from
the user. The whole length of the cable should be used
and the user should stay away from the hive.
• The foam material used for sealing the hive must be
handled with gloves. This avoids contact with the acid
where it may have condensed on the inner side of
the foam. The foam material must be washed out
carefully with water before putting away.
•
Treatments on colonies in a beehouse must only be
made from outside through the entrances of the hi-
ves
. During the treatment, the beehouse must be well
ventilated. No person must be inside the beehouse.
• The VARROX
®
-Vaporiser is a powerful heater that ge-
nerates high temperatures. The vaporiser must not be
used near easily flammable materials. Always put the
vaporiser on a sheet of non-flammable material (i.e.
metal). Never touch the metallic part of the vaporiser
when in use. Caution: metallic parts may be hot for
a long time after use. The vaporiser must never be
switched on without supervision.
• After the treatment in the winter, oxalic acid-crystals
are found on the bottom of the hive. This can be due
to the absence of bee cleaning activity as found in
the summer. Caution is therefore needed if mite fall is
controlled after a treatment in the winter. Gloves and
a protective mask should be worn. The rest of the oxa-
lic acid will break down to water and carbon dioxide
and will be cleaned by the bees in spring.
5. Concept of control
Do not treat colonies with honey supers on.
5.1 Treatment in brood free colonies
The VARROX
®
-Vaporiser can be used in broodless colo-
nies. With the VARROX
®
-Vaporiser a very good efficacy
of > 96 % can be reached and thus it can decimate the
varroa-mite-population reliably to a very low level. The-
reby, optimal conditions for the new season are created
for the bees.
If there is a mite fall of more than 1000 varroa mites
caused by the treatment, or if it is uncertain whether there
was brood in the colonies, a second treatment is recom-
mended. The optimal time for it, is two weeks after the first
treatment. If a second treatment is necessary only 1 gram
of oxalic acid has to be used, independent on the size of
the hive. Two or more treatments are very well tolerated
by the bees.
5.2 Treatment of swarms / artificial swarms
Swarms and artificial swarms can be treated at any time.
5.3 Treatment of nucleus
Treatment of queenright nuclei should be carried out be-
fore the first brood is sealed, if possible. (No efficacy in
sealed brood).
English
English
Attention:
Queenless colonies react very conspicuously to
the treatment with an increased activity in the hive and by
leaving the hive.
6. Accessories
(to order separately)
• Protective mask FFP3 (Acid / Gas respirator)
• Timer
• Gloves
• Glasses
7. Electrical supply
The VARROX
®
-vaporiser must be operated with 12 volts,
12 ampere and cannot be directly plugged into a socket
of 110 V or 220 V. It runs on
alternating and direct cur-
rent
(AC/DC). The following can be used as a source of
power:
• Car accumulator minimum 40 Ah
(the accumula-
tor and battery charger can be bought in DIY super
stores)
• With a transformer (12 V, 12 A)
If the vaporiser is connected to the car accumulator for
prolonged periods the engine of the car may have to be
run to avoid draining the battery.
8. Source of troubles
• After the treatment there is still some acid left in the-
pan
• Heating time is too short: Heat longer (plus
about 1/2 minutes)!
• Accumulator is weak and delivers not enough
current: Charge accumulator!
• Possible burr-comb below the frames, has to be re-
moved, so that it is not in the way of the VARROX
®
-
vaporiser or too close.
• The treatment should only be used in hives normally
occupied with bees. Very small colonies or even
empty hives should not be treated.
9. Warranty
Please, follow the instructions for use carefully. We do not
assume any warranty for incorrect application, reasons
of unsatisfactory efficacy or possible damages that are
beyond the control of Andermatt BioVet AG.
Type hof hive
Oxalic acid-
dihydrate
Measuring
spoon*
One-chanber-hive
(warm way, one-storey)
1 g
1
Two-chamber-hive
(two-storey/Dadant)
2 g
2
