Please note: new low-profile model! Liebig Dispenser with evaporation paper/wick (overall height 12 cm). Suitable for evaporating formic acid. This is the version with the short bottle, so a honey super is sufficient to install the dispenser. This dispenser is also known as the 'Liebig Dispenser'. The Liebig evaporation paper is a product of Andermatt Biovet.

The Varrofix vaporizer is a compact device that slides easily into (almost) all beehives. The height is approximately 6 mm, the width approximately 4 cm, and the length is 28 cm. Using the dosing spoon, spread the required amount of oxalic acid onto the Varrofix vaporizer. Once the Varrofix is switched on, it heats up to sublimate (vaporize) the oxalic acid at exactly the right temperature. After vaporization, the entire hive is coated with an oxalic acid dust. Mites cannot escape this. The mites die within 24 hours when their footpads come into contact with the crystals.

You can find a battery for the Varrofix [product id=1864]here[/product], as well as a [page controller="search" search_query=2451]battery charger/trickle charger[/page].

When you order the Varrofix vaporizer you receive:
* the Varrofix vaporizer
* connecting cable
* a handy 1 g dosing spoon
* a small bottle of oil
* an info flyer/user manual.

Tip: order [product id=352]oxalic acid[/product] at the same time if you no longer have it in stock.

Work safely as advised in the [product id=283]bijen@wur guide[/product] (free download; see books, manuals).

The beekeeper is strongly advised to wear a protective respirator mask (absolutely do not inhale the vapors and work so that the vapors blow away from you).

Varrox Eddy is a compact portable vaporizer with a replaceable battery, compatible with all common hive sizes. The vaporizer is inserted into the hive entrance. A beekeeper simply presses one button and the vaporizer does the rest. This lets the beekeeper stay safely at a distance from the hive to avoid inhaling harmful vapors. Colored LED indicators let you monitor the progress of the treatment. This Andermatt BioVet vaporizer weighs 600 g, and one battery charge is enough to treat about 15 hives. The dimensions of the Varrox Eddy (the part that goes into the hive entrance) are 8.2 cm wide x 1.5 cm high.

Made in Switzerland.

Dosage

Use 2 grams of oxalic acid dihydrate per hive.

Package contents

- The Varrox Eddy
- 2 crucibles
- 1 battery (about 15 hives)
- 1 charger
- 1 storage box

Benefits

- Lightweight and easy to use
- Replaceable, rechargeable battery
- Electronic time/temperature control
- One battery charge is enough for 15 hives

The Sublimox is a device for easily administering oxalic acid vapor in the hive. It keeps the oxalic acid at a constant, correct temperature, ensuring only oxalic acid vapor is released and no formic acid gas is produced. The Sublimox is connected to 230V. Operation is simple: place a cap with oxalic acid upside down on the device. Then turn the device over and the vapors come out of the unit. Let them disperse into the hive; this takes just 25 seconds.

This Sublimox set is supplied complete with:

• Heating element with handle and automatic temperature control
• Two caps for applying oxalic acid
• 3 m cable for connection to the heating element
• Bag or case for transport
• CE certified

We recommend using a [product id=598]half-face respirator[/product] when working with oxalic acid vapors and always working with the wind at your back. The Sublimox can also be connected to a 12 to 230 volt inverter of at least 300 W (not included!).

When using plastic hives or a plastic bottom board, it can be helpful to make a small slat. Drill a hole in it that the Sublimox tube fits through exactly. You can then place this at the entrance, which prevents the hive from melting because the tube cannot touch the hive body.

The Sublimox also works on a standard car battery of 55–60 Ah or more. You will need to connect an inverter capable of at least 300 watts. With a full battery you can work for about one and a half hours.

Note that when using a battery the cable must not be longer than 10 meters. For use over a longer distance, a custom (two-core) cable with thicker conductors is necessary (for example 2.5 mm2) to prevent excessive voltage drop.

Note: we advise not to use the Sublimox with beehives made of EPS material, as this may cause damage.

Varroa tester for easily calculating the number of Varroa mites in a bee colony. How does the Varroa tester work and how do I calculate the number of mites in the colony? Shake approximately 200 bees into the tester. This is about 25 grams or half a teacup. Then anesthetize the bees and mites with CO2 (this cartridge is not included) and gently shake the cup. This causes the mites to detach from the bees. They will fall through the perforated divider plate into the other compartment of the Varroa tester. You can now easily count the mites. The quickest way to calculate the infestation rate in the colony is to divide the number of mites by the number of bees. So 10 mites from 200 bees: 10/200 = 0.05, i.e. 5% Varroa mite infestation in the colony. From 5% onward, treatment is recommended. This calculation can also be used for the powdered sugar method. Scroll further down for a step-by-step guide and the calculation to determine the total number of Varroa mites in the colony.

Note: don’t forget to add a [product id=5534]CO₂ cartridge[/product]  (prod. 8169) to your order.

The quality of this Varroa tester is equal to the original model. However, the CO2 applicator is made of plastic instead of metal.

The Varrofix vaporizer Deluxe set is a small device that can easily be slid into (almost) all beehives. The height is approximately 6 mm, the width about 4 cm and the length is 28 cm. Using a measuring spoon, spread the required amount of oxalic acid onto the Varrofix vaporizer. As soon as the Varrofix is switched on, it heats up to exactly the right temperature to sublimate (vaporize) the oxalic acid. After vaporization, the entire hive is coated with an oxalic acid dust. The mites cannot escape this. The mites die within 24 hours when their footpads come into contact with the crystals. You can find a battery for the Varrofix [product id=1864]here[/product] as well as a [page controller="search" search_query=2451]battery charger/maintainer[/page].

When you order the Varrofix vaporizer deluxe set you receive:

• the Varrofix vaporizer
• Varrofix battery
• Varrofix charger
• Varrofix timer
• a handy measuring spoon for 1 gram of oxalic acid
• a small bottle of oil
• an information leaflet/user manual.

Tip: order [product id=352]oxalic acid[/product] right away if you’re out of stock.

Work safely as advised in the [product id=283]guide from bijen@wur[/product] (free download; see books, manuals). 

The beekeeper is strongly advised to wear a protective face mask (absolutely do not inhale the vapors and work so that the fumes blow away from you).

The original Varroa tester (European-made) for easily calculating the number of Varroa mites in a colony. How does the Varroa tester work and how do I calculate the number of mites in the colony? Shake approximately 200 bees into the tester. This is about 25 grams or half a teacup. Then anesthetize the bees and mites with CO² and gently shake the cup. This causes the mites to detach from the bees. They will fall through the mesh into the other compartment of the Varroa tester. The mites can now be counted easily. The quickest way to calculate the infestation rate in the colony is to divide the number of mites by the number of bees. So 10 mites from 200 bees: 10/200 = 0.05, i.e. 5% Varroa mite infestation in the colony. Treatment is recommended from 5%. This calculation can also be used for the powdered sugar method. Scroll further down for a step-by-step guide and the calculation to determine the total number of Varroa mites in the colony.

Note: [product id=5534]don't forget to order a CO₂ cartridge[/product].

Deluxe Varroa tester in a transparent model that lets you perform 3 tests:

• Varroa infestation level in your colony
• Colony hygiene
• Varroa resistance to treatments

Test 1

- Collect about 300 bees in the middle section of the Varroa tester and screw on the top section to keep the bees from escaping.
- Fill the bottom section with one tablespoon of powdered sugar and fasten it to the other two sections.
- Shake the entire Varroa tester for 1-2 minutes and make sure all the sugar falls back into the bottom section. The mites will drop down with it.
- Unscrew the bottom section and add water to dissolve the powdered sugar. The mites float on the water and are easy to count.

With 0-3 mites you have a low infestation, 3-10 mites a medium infestation, and 10+ mites a high infestation.

Test 2

- Use the tester’s prongs to pierce 10-15-day-old brood from a brood box.
- Make sure the brood is damaged by pricking 2 to 3 times. You only need to pierce the brood in one spot (the same size as the prongs).
- The bees will clean the cells; if after 6 hours 70%, after 8 hours 90%, and after one day 100% of the cells are cleaned, your colony shows good hygienic behavior.

Test 3

This test is for the same hive as used for test 1.

- Fill the middle section of the tester with about 150 bees collected from a brood box. Close it with the top section of the tester.
- Attach an oxalic acid–soaked strip [product id=2265](art. 2772)[/product] to the container holding the bees.
- Place the container with the strip at the top in a dark room at room temperature and wait 6 hours.
- Then remove the strip and shake the container several times over white paper.

The mites are not resistant to the given treatment if the mite count is greater than 1/4 of the result from test 1.

With the Varrofix timer you can, at the push of a button, set the Varrofix vaporizer to run for five minutes. The timer ensures the vaporizer switches off automatically after five minutes. Then wait 10 minutes for the full vaporization process to complete (as described in the Varrofix flyer) and you can move on to the next hive.

Warning: use the timer only in dry weather and never place it in a damp location. Always make sure the red wire is connected to the red terminal and the black wire to the black terminal of the battery.

The timer may have a margin of error of up to 40 seconds. So between 4 minutes 50 seconds and 5 minutes 30 seconds.

This battery can be used with the [product id=1849]Varrofix vaporizer[/product]. The battery provides sufficient power to treat multiple hives.

Tip:
Use a battery charger/maintainer to extend the battery’s lifespan. The maintainer keeps the battery in good condition when not in use and also ensures the battery is always charged and ready for use. You can find a battery charger/maintainer [page controller="search" search_query=2451]here[/page].

Note The color of the battery may differ from the photo.