Formic acid

Hey all,
A sweet fellow with about 50 years of beekeeping experience gave me a swarm along with honey, pollen, and brood. 7 frames in all.
My first question is he realllllyyyy wanted me to do a formic acid treatment in a few days just in case there were mites. Now, I really want to be an all natural beekeeper (I built a horizontal hive about a 30 framer and 20” deep) and I don’t want to do that … he kind of freaked me out about it though.
Any advice? After reading Keeping Bees with a Smile by Dr. Sharashkin and listen to Jacqueline Freeman really don’t wanna (my crybaby voice).
Thanks all!

Unfortunately that is something almost all beekeepers do ever since the colony collapse disorder became so common. I have done it once or twice but ultimately stopped. I decided the survival of the fittest method was best for all concerned. However I had many colonies in several different locations & could afford to lose some once in a while. It is easy enough to make splits to replace any that are lost.

That being said ... I think with a single swarm of unknown origin it might be best to treat them the first year. I'd suggest waiting a few weeks until they accept their new hive & start building it out & developing brood. Otherwise they might abscond because that stuff smells truly awful. If you do treat be sure to wear appropriate nose, mouth, & eye protection.

Some people use insect foggers filled with mineral oil instead of insecticide. I think all that does is make the bees slippery & has minimal effect on the varroa mites since most of the varroa are inside capped cells. It's also a good way to start an unintentional fire.

Slow release gels seem to work the best. this is a popluar example

Thanks, I might be adding another swarm to the first.
I’ll think about it … I’m just not sure I can do it.

Something else that supposedly helps is screened hive bottoms with the hive body sitting on black rocks or asphalt. It is said the varro fall through & lay eggs on the black material which cooks them because it is too hot. I have never actually tried it but it does seem plausible.

I can say its unfortunate to hear you speak of the non treatment of the mite.
In Australia we did not have it until a year or tow ago when it came into Newcastle `nd escaped.
We had people moving hives everywhere instead of obeying the Ag department rules until we knew what as going on.
Now its all over and has created a huge headache over the whole country