50% Formic Acid Paper-Pad

Fumigation
Jim Amrine, Bob Noel, 10 Nov 2007

Please use eye protection, rubber gloves and an approved respirator

when handling liquid formic acid!

Warning! Read all label warnings of all chemicals prior to use.

Formic Acid is dangerous to human tissue. It can severely burn
skin, cause blindness and damage lungs, liver, and kidneys if
inhaled. Only qualified persons wearing proper eye, lung and skin
protection should work with this chemical. Liquid formulation of
formic acid is not currently registered as a miticide. Consult your
state apiculturist regarding its possible use for varroa mite
control in your state.
 Why Does the 50% Formic Acid Fumigator work better
than other formic acid applications?
At 45-50% FA, ~ three ounces of formic acid, applied above the brood
nest, forms a ‘true vapor’ that hangs in the hive and penetrates the
brood cappings, killing the mites inside. Only a few hours of 50% FA
vapor is needed to fumigate the capped cells. Slow release FA, 80% or
65%, or even 50%- never develops the correct vapor that will penetrate
the cappings and kill the mites (too little FA, too slow).
At higher concentrations, very strong hydrogen bonding of formic acid
molecules causes the heavy ‘vapor’ to act more like a fluid; it flows
down to the bottom board and out onto the grass, often killing the
grass. The entrance must be reduced to hold in the 50% vapor; but,
most other methods keep the entrance wide open.
At a ratio of 1:1 water to FA (50%), the hydrogen bonding effect is
much less and the FA dissipates evenly, forming a true vapor,
penetrating the cappings and killing the mites.
About three ounces of 50% FA, - present as a vapor for just 16-24
hours - penetrates the cappings and kills vm in capped brood cells and
dissipates by the next day. Old, black brood cappings protect varroa.
REFS: Amrine & Noel (2006). Amrine et al. (2007)
 Hydrogen
Bonds ---

100% formic acid, anhydrous, has a huge series of hydrogen

bonds; Because of this, vapors of 65% and 80% solutions act more
like fluids than gases. Specific gravity of 100% is 1.22; 80% - 1.176;
60% - 1.132.
 Formic acid

water

50% Formic Acid has one water molecule for each

formic molecule. Specific Gravity: 1.110
On evaporation this solution acts more like a true vapor
than a fluid; the vapor can penetrate brood cappings but
not honey cappings.
Honey cappings, closeup. Made of pure beeswax: impervious to
water vapor and FA.
Drone & Worker cappings; wax plus wood/cloth fibers, pollen and part of
cell walls are put into the capping so that gasses can enter and leave.
October, 2006, Cocoa, Florida.
Preparing 20 colonies for 50% Formic Acid Fumigation.
 Results-for the Fumigator Apr 2006-Jan 2007 # Cells
Hive Alive Dead Total Mortality Examined # Cells Inf
Apr3 2 168 170 98.82 200 -
Aug1 6 42 48 87.50 100 16
Summary of all Fumigator Aug2
Aug3
2
0
45
79
47
79
95.74
100.00
100
100
23
23
treatments for 2006-2007 Aug4
Aug5
0
5
66
36
66
41
100.00
87.80
100
100
45
20
Aug6 3 72 75 96.00 100 28
Counts made from capped brood Aug7 1 6 7 85.71 100 3
Aug8 8 27 35 77.14 100 16
cells, mostly drone cells. Aug9
Aug10
0
1
70
25
70
26
100.00
96.15
100
100
34
15
Oct1 0 39 39 100.00 100 13
Oct2 0 67 67 100.00 100 36
Oct3 31 57 88 64.77 100 27
Average Control: 93.01% Oct4
Oct5
0
3
74
23
74
26
100.00
88.46
100
100
30
21

Overall control: 91.52% or Oct6

Oct7
0
1
21
33
21
34
100.00
97.06
100
100
15
12
Oct8 10 51 61 83.61 100 32
1,626 dead mites/1,748 total mites Oct9
Oct10
1
1
9
30
10
31
90.00
96.77
100
100
9
22

found. Oct11
Oct12
16
0
33
23
49
23
67.35
100.00
100
100
36
17
Oct13 1 11 12 91.67 100 10
Oct14 0 51 51 100.00 100 14
Oct15 0 32 32 100.00 100 9
Oct16 2 53 55 96.36 100 24
Oct17 0 43 43 100.00 100 29
Oct18 0 61 61 100.00 100 28
Oct19 0 47 47 100.00 100 12
Oct20 1 52 53 98.11 100 26
Jan01 0 5 5 100.00 100 2
Jan02 0 0 0 100 0
Jan03 0 2 2 100.00 100 2
Jan4 1 3 4 75.00 100 2
Jan5 15 34 49 69.39 100 26
Jan6 0 4 4 100.00 100 2
Jan7 0 8 8 100.00 100 4
Jan8 0 3 3 100.00 100 3
Jan9 0 1 1 100.00 100 1
Jan10 0 13 13 100.00 100 7
Jan11 1 2 3 66.67 100 3
Jan12 0 18 18 100.00 100 8
Jan13 0 2 2 100.00 100 2
Jan14 0 5 5 100.00 100 3
Jan15 0 5 5 100.00 100 5
Jan16 9 21 30 70.00 100 9
Jan17 0 0 0 100 0
Jan18 0 4 4 100.00 100 1
Jan19 0 28 28 100.00 100 13
Jan20 1 22 23 95.65 100 11
Total mite 122 1626 1748 93.02 14.40
91.52
 2007 Paper Pad Treatments
Cumberland, MD; Ft. Pierce, FL
Robert C. Noel, J. Amrine, D. Webb

Following our experimental control trials in Florida using

the 50% formic acid fumigator, beekeepers asked us to
modify the method so that 100s or 1000s of colonies could
be easily treated. They wanted us to reduce labor,
materials and costs. Bob came up with this new paper pad
method in March, 2007
 A Treated Colony - 1 ½ story - (75ml
formic on pad + 15ml HBH on paper
towel)
-- Wood-Framed Queen Excluder on
top allows air circulation around the
pad. Entrance can be reduced with
paper (see next slide).
Pad w FA
is here - Taped Freezer Paper covers the FA pad.
QE
-It takes about 5 minutes or less to put
on a treatment; bees can remove all
items but the wood entrance reducer,
which can be replaced by paper held
in place with duct tape.

Reduced 3/8" x 3.5" central opening in entrance

entrance reducer.

- W. T. Kelley Bottom Board

 15 ml HBH
90 m l
50 % F A

15 ml HBH

90 ml
50% FA

Plastic wrap o
ver brood

Ft. Pierce, FL: 16Apr07. Entrance reduced with paper and duct tape; the
entrance should be in the center, not on the right side as in this photo
We use five to seven ‘Gummy Candies’ placed on brood frames to hold
and adjust the paper pad above the brood frames. Candies compress.
Bees will remove pad, towel, candy and freezer paper.
 85ml of 50% Formic Acid in a graduated measuring glass.
(specific gravity = 1.110)
We used: - 85ml 50% formic used for two full depth brood boxes.
- 75ml 50% formic used for 1 1/2 depth brood boxes.
- 60ml 50% formic used for one full depth brood box
Note: These are our refined experimental doses only; they are lower
than our first trials.
 85 ml
50% formic acid

15 ml
Honey-B-Healthy

15ml of HBH added to a paper towel and placed on the top bars near the 85ml
50% formic on double brood chambers, which helps to prevent queen loss.
 Sides w
3/8"
beeways

Freezer paper - 13.5" x 21" [34.3cm x 53.3cm] - with waxed side down, with duct
tape in front and back to keep it in place. Leave 3/8" beeways on each side.
Waxed paper can be used instead.
Treated Colony. Note the entrance reduced to 3/8" x 3.5“ [.95cm x 8.9cm ] at the
center. The chamber with most brood was placed under the treated pad. Paper and
duct tape can be used to reduce the front entrance to 1.75” x .75” [4.4cm x 1.9cm].
Dry pad - removed 18 hours later. No odor of formic acid (Aug. 18).
FL, 16Apr07, 4:41:14 pm, colony P6: RH = 71.9%, T = 96.0° F. Bees fan vigorously,
increasing the temperature to about 97 F. FA vapor exits the reduced entrance;
about 55 mins after treatment; this was 2nd highest T recorded (97.3° F was max).
Dead varroa mites at
the entrance, under the
reducer. A piece of
paper can be cut to be
an entrance with a 3/4 x
1.5” opening; the bees
can then remove it.
On 18 August, 25 capped drone cells were found with varroa and 24 had
dead mites with one cell having 2 live varroa. All drone cells opened in
this hive were made in older dark comb. It was surprising to find this
many dead varroa in the thicker drone cells which have thicker cappings.
A handful of dead
emerging workers
below the entrance is
the sign of a good
treatment. If it kills a few
of them, it will kill 93%
of the varroa mites.
Why does 50% FA kill mites and young workers and
some brood, but not the rest of the bees?

Mature honey bees (mature larvae and mature adults)

have an outer cement layer on their cuticle that
repels/resists harmful chemicals. It takes an emerging
worker 24 to 48 hours to develop this final cement layer,
thus these are killed. If you see or anticipate large
numbers of emerging brood, hold off your treatment for
a few days.
Varroa mites lack a protective cement layer on the
cuticle. They will need to evolve one in order to survive
FA, to develop resistance. Evolution of a new cement
layer of cuticle will require thousands or millions of
years.
This method was developed so that beekeepers could apply
the treatment and not have to return. After a few days the
Gusmer pads are removed from the hive. Freezer paper and
paper inserts at the entrance are also removed by the bees
in a few days.
This queen at Rick’s bee yard
has had 3 formic acid
treatments in 7 months; she
survived them all! We did two
tests during very hot weather
last July/August 2006 to see
if the bees and queens would
survive (in preparation for
Florida).

Mite influx or re-invasion is

very high in areas that have
many apiaries and frequent
migration of bee colonies
Results of all paper pad tests since March, 2007; assay of capped brood.
All Paper-Pad Treatments, 2007
Number Number Total # Cells # Cells
HIVES Alive Dead Mites %Mortality Infested Examned %infested Notes ml Date
Pad1 3 52 55 94.55 26 118 22.03 Drones 95 29Mar07
FL1 0 33 33 100.00 20 100 20.00 Drones 90 17Apr07
FL2 8 60 68 88.24 38 100 38.00 Drones 90 17Apr07
FL3 0 33 33 100.00 20 100 20.00 Drones 90 17Apr07
FL4 0 31 31 100.00 10 100 10.00 Drones 90 17Apr07
FL5 2 24 26 92.31 11 100 11.00 Drones 90 17Apr07
FL6 1 55 56 98.21 26 100 26.00 Drones 90 17Apr07
FL7 8 74 82 90.24 38 100 38.00 Drones 90 17Apr07
FL8 1 17 18 94.44 15 100 15.00 Drones 90 17Apr07
JUDY1 11 58 69 84.06 38 60 63.33 QE; drones 85 10Sep07
JUDY2 0 48 48 100.00 35 79 44.30 QE; drones 85 10Sep07
JUDY3 0 61 61 100.00 35 61 57.38 QE; drones 85 10Sep07
ROB1 0 15 15 100.00 9 21 42.86 QE; drones 75 17Sep07
ROB2 0 31 31 100.00 20 53 37.74 QE; drones 80 17Sep07
ROB3 1 57 58 98.28 32 50 64.00 QE; drones 75 17Sep07
ROB4 0 29 29 100.00 16 54 29.63 QE; drones 75 17Sep07
ROB5 0 51 51 100.00 32 54 59.26 QE; drones 80 17Sep07
5fr-Nuke 7 73 80 91.25 42 96 43.75 Workers 37 01Oct07
3fr-Nuke 0 34 34 100.00 19 101 18.81 Workers 28 06Oct07
Cumb-1 2 94 96 97.92 51 100 51.00 QE-Worker 65 9Oct07
Cumb-2 5 137 142 96.48 66 100 66.00 QE-Worker 65 9Oct07
Cumb-3 0 40 40 100.00 20 100 20.00 QE-Worker 65 9Oct07
Cumb-4 0 64 64 100.00 38 100 38.00 QE-Worker 65 9Oct07
Cumb-5 0 103 103 100.00 56 100 56.00 QE-Worker 65 9Oct07
SUM/MEAN 49 1274 1323 96.30 30 85 37.17
Average % Mortality 96.92 N = 24
Overall% Mortality 96.30
Average mortality was 96.9%; the overall average mortality (1274 dead/1323 total) = 96.3%.
All Control Hives, 2006-2007. Number Number
HIVES Alive Dead Mites %Mortality Infested Examined %infested Date
Aug C1 180 0 180 0.00 54 100 54.00 Aug06
Aug C2 116 3 119 2.52 42 100 42.00 Aug06
Aug C3 156 0 156 0.00 66 100 66.00 Aug06
Aug C4 24 0 24 0.00 24 100 24.00 Aug06 These are all of our
Aug C5 22 0 22 0.00 8 100 8.00 Aug06
Aug C6 6 0 6 0.00 4 100 4.00 Aug06
controls, 2006-2007.
Aug C7 14 0 14 0.00 5 100 5.00 Aug06
Aug C8 23 0 23 0.00 20 100 20.00 Aug06
Aug C9 44 1 45 2.22 12 100 12.00 Aug06 Average control mortality
Aug C10 7 1 8 12.50 7 100 7.00 Aug06
Oct C1 87 0 87 0.00 52 100 52.00 Oct06 was 2.17%; this value was
Oct C2 56 1 57 1.75 34 100 34.00 Oct06
Oct C3 37 7 44 15.91 28 100 28.00 Oct06 skewed upward by several
Oct C4 38 0 38 0.00 13 100 13.00 Oct06
Oct C5 15 0 15 0.00 13 100 13.00 Oct06
low counts with one or two
Oct C6
Oct C7
27
34
0
1
27
35
0.00
2.86
20
18
100
100
20.00
18.00
Oct06
Oct06
dead mites.
Oct C8 17 0 17 0.00 9 100 9.00 Oct06
Oct C9 5 0 5 0.00 5 100 5.00 Oct06
Oct C10 85 2 87 2.30 29 100 29.00 Oct06 The overall control mortality
Jan C1 5 0 5 0.00 5 100 5.00 Jan07
Jan C2 14 1 15 6.67 15 100 15.00 Jan07 was 1.66% based on 25
Jan C3 8 0 8 0.00 6 100 6.00 Jan07
Jan C4 6 0 6 0.00 4 100 4.00 Jan07 dead mites out of 1506 total.
Jan C5 1 0 1 0.00 1 100 1.00 Jan07
Jan C6 3 1 4 25.00 3 100 3.00 Jan07
Jan C7 17 0 17 0.00 9 100 9.00 Jan07
Jan C8 1 0 1 0.00 1 100 1.00 Jan07
Jan C9 7 0 7 0.00 5 100 5.00 Jan07
Jan C10 4 0 4 0.00 4 100 4.00 Jan07
Apr07-1 29 1 30 3.33 18 100 18.00 Apr07
Apr07-2 39 1 40 2.50 22 100 22.00 Apr07
Apr07-3 1 0 1 0.00 1 100 1.00 Apr07
5fr-Nuk 74 2 76 2.63 31 105 29.52 1Oct07
3fr-Nuk 36 2 38 5.26 25 107 23.36 6Oct07
Cumb-1 94 0 94 0.00 62 100 62.00 8Oct07
Cumb-2 38 0 38 0.00 37 100 37.00 8Oct07
Cumb-3 9 0 9 0.00 13 100 13.00 8Oct07
Cumb-4 35 0 35 0.00 31 100 31.00 8Oct07
Cumb-5 67 1 68 1.47 49 100 49.00 8Oct07
SUM/MEAN 1481 25 1506 1.66 20 100 20.05
Average % Mortality 2.17 N = 40
Overall % Mortality 1.66
Statiscal Analysis conducted by Dr. Yong-Lak Park, Entomologist, WVU.
Source of the paper pads that gave us excellent results:
Quote from: Deborah Fenske, 15 June 2007. Gusmer Enterprises
Inside Sales Representative - Specialty Products
1401 Ware Street, Waupaca, WI
Inside Sales Representative - Specialty Products
dfenske@gusmerenterprises.com
Telephone: 715-258-5525, ext. 144
Material: AC-16
Thickness:.100"
Size: 8-1/4” x 11”
Quantity and Price per 1000, FOB Waupaca, WI
1,000 = $480.75/M ($.48 each)
2,500 = $460.75/M ($.46 each)
5,000 = $445.75/M ($.45 each)
10,000 = $440.75/M ($.44 each)

Delivery: “We can ship 2-3 weeks after receipt of purchase order.”
Terms: Net 30 Days pending credit approval.
This quotation is firm until December 13, 2007.
Estimated cost of 50% formic acid treatment: $1.00 to
$1.32 per hive

Diluted to 50% formic acid with tap water: $12.91/1.8 = $7.12 per gallon.

64 ozs per gallon; 3 ozs per hive = 21.3 hives per gallon of 50% formic acid.
$7.12/21.3 = $0.35 per hive

Buying FA in 55 gal drums reduces this to $1/gal or ($1.00/1.8)/21.3 = $0.03

per hive.

Cost of paper pad = $.48

Cost of 15 ml of HBH = $.39
Freezer paper = $.09

Cost of freezer paper (1100’ by 15”): $42 on the web for one roll.
($42/1100)x2’/hive

Cost per hive = $.35 + $.48 + $.39 + papers (freezer & entrance = $.10) = $1.32
Or: $0.03 + $.48 + $.39 + papers (freezer & entrance = $.10) = about $1.00/hive

It takes about 5 minutes to treat one hive.

Disclaimer: While care has been taken in the preparation of the information contained in
this website, we cannot claim it to be absolutely true and accurate. We invite researchers
and beekeepers to conduct research on varroa control with this new method to verify its
efficacy. Please follow the protocols given in this presentation. No endorsement of
products is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products implied. The data contained
herein is for informational purposes only and is not represented to be error free. We do not
recommended that beekeepers use this method. We shall not be liable for any damage of
any kind that may result from the use or misuse of information from this website, therefore
anyone accessing this information does so at their own risk. It will be assumed that access
indemnifies us from any and all injury or damage arising from such use.

Special thanks to Jerry, Mary and Gary Turner, JJ and Jacob Tilton, John
Gentzel, Dimitry Albertese, Alberto Santini, Malcolm Brinson, Mark
Altmeter, Mike Potoczak, Daniel Amrine, David Amrine, Tony Delia, Art
Sternheimer, Steve Saffle, Gary Ranker and others. Without their help,
this work could not have been done. Dr. Yong-Lak Park, West Virginia
University, assisted with the statistical analyses.
References:
Amrine J. W. Jr., Noel, R., Webb, D. 2007. Results of 50% formic acid fumgation of
honey bee hives [Apis mellifera ligustica (Hymenoptera: Apidae) to control varroa
mites (Acari: Varroidae) in brood combs in Florida, U. S. A. Internat. J. Acarology
33(2): 99-109.
Amrine J. W. Jr., Noel, R. 2006. Formic acid fumigator for controlling varroa mites
in honey bee hives. Internat. J. Acarology 32(2): 115-124.
Contact Information:
Jim Amrine, Professor of Entomology, Division of Plant/Soil
Sciences
G-168 Agricultural Sciences Building, Evansdale Drive, P.O. Box
6108, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6108.
Telephone: 304.293.6023, x4307[office], x4309 [lab]
Fax: 304.293.2960, E-Mail: jamrine@wvu.edu
Web site: http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/varroa06.htm
Bob Noel, Beekeeper, 108 Blackiston Ave.
Cumberland, MD 21502.
Telephone 301.724.3529
E-Mail: rcnoel@atlanticbb.net
http://rnoel.50megs.com/2000/index.htm

David Webb, Professional Beekeeper

Vice President, Florida Beekeepers Association
Honey, Pollination, Bee Removal
Webbs Honey
901 Elkcam Boulevard
Cocoa, FL 32927
Home Telephone: 321.636.5377
Mobil: 321.403.4201
E-Mail: webbshoney@msn.com