The recommended placement for acaricide strips is directly suspended between two brood frames. This specific location maximizes the physical contact and friction required to transfer the active ingredients from the strip to the bees. By placing the strips in the highest traffic area of the hive, you utilize the bees' natural movement to distribute the medication throughout the entire colony.
Success depends on contact, not just presence. The effectiveness of acaricide strips relies entirely on the mechanical friction of bees rubbing against them, turning the bees themselves into a delivery system for the rest of the colony.
The Mechanics of Effective Placement
To ensure the safety of your hive and the destruction of the mites, you must understand why the "brood frame" location is non-negotiable.
Maximizing Physical Contact
Acaricide strips are not passive air fresheners; they utilize contact-based transmission. The active ingredients, such as amitraz, are embedded in a carrier material that releases slowly.
For the chemical to work, bees must physically touch the strip. Suspending the strip between frames creates a narrow passage, increasing the frequency of friction as bees squeeze past.
Leveraging Biological Behavior
The placement strategy exploits the natural traffic patterns of the hive. The brood nest is the hub of colony activity.
As bees move between these frames, they pick up the miticide. This biological behavior facilitates the transmission of the ingredient, carrying it from the high-traffic center to the rest of the colony.
Ensuring Continuous Coverage
Proper placement ensures a continuous and stable release of the medication. Because the brood area maintains a consistent population of moving bees, the release rate of the chemical remains steady.
This consistency allows the strips to maintain an effective concentration over an extended period, ensuring that all adult worker bees are eventually exposed and protected.
Understanding the Trade-offs
While synthetic strips are powerful tools for rapidly reducing infestation rates, their mechanism creates specific limitations you must manage.
The Risk of Poor Positioning
If strips are placed on the outer edges of the hive (honey frames) or in areas with low bee density, efficacy drops significantly. Without the constant friction of the brood nest traffic, the active ingredient will not distribute effectively.
Dependence on Bee Activity
The system relies entirely on bee movement. In colder weather or periods of low activity, the transmission rate may decrease because the "biological vehicle" (the bee) is moving less frequently between frames.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
Correct placement is the difference between a minor reduction in mites and bringing the population below economic thresholds.
- If your primary focus is rapid infestation reduction: Suspend strips strictly within the brood nest where bee density and movement are highest to maximize immediate contact.
- If your primary focus is consistent colony coverage: Ensure the strips are spaced evenly to force interaction with the maximum number of individual bees over the treatment period.
By aligning the placement of the strips with the natural behavior of the colony, you ensure the medication reaches every corner of the hive.
Summary Table:
| Placement Aspect | Recommendation | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Core Location | Suspended between brood frames | Highest bee traffic and friction area. |
| Transmission Mode | Contact-based (Mechanical) | Bees must rub against the strip to distribute the chemical. |
| Ideal Area | Center of the brood nest | Ensures stable release and maximum biological spread. |
| Common Error | Placement on outer honey frames | Low bee activity leads to treatment failure. |
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References
- Aleš Gregorc, Ivo Planinc. Use of Thymol Formulations, Amitraz, and Oxalic Acid for the Control of the Varroa Mite in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera carnica) Colonies. DOI: 10.2478/v10289-012-0024-8
This article is also based on technical information from HonestBee Knowledge Base .
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