Instructions for use of Oxytetracycline for bees, composition of the drug

Beekeeping is responsible and hard work. So, in order for the bees not to get sick and produce healthy offspring, beekeepers have to use different medications. One of these drugs is Oxytetracycline, intended for bees. This antibiotic cures insects from a bacterial disease - foulbrood. Let's consider the composition and form of release of the product, as well as detailed instructions for its use.

Application in beekeeping

Beekeepers use oxytetracycline to treat bees from foulbrood diseases, of which two types are especially dangerous: European and American foulbrood. These diseases spread quickly among insects, so it is necessary to apply remedial measures as soon as possible. Otherwise, all the bees in the hive may become infected and die.

The first target of the foulbrood is the larvae, which, dying out, continue to lie at the bottom of the hives as a rotten mass and infect other individuals. The disease can spread to other hives, and in some cases affect apiaries located nearby.

Composition, release form

A medicinal product that contains the active substance oxytetracycline hydrochloride is presented on the market under the name “Terracon”. This is a brown powder, available in paper bags of 2 grams. This mass is enough for four bee colonies.

Pharmacological properties

This drug has antimicrobial and antibacterial effects, as well as a bacteriostatic effect on pathological bacteria. Under the influence of Oxytetracycline, microbes stop reproducing and the entire colony quickly dies out. Oxytetracycline acts on both gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms. The active substance is not effective against Protea, yeast and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Oxytetracycline hydrochloride for bees. Instructions

Experienced beekeepers begin to treat their charges with this drug from the beginning of spring, before honey collection, and also after pumping out honey. Before treatment with oxytetracycline, it is necessary to isolate infected bees in a separate house. There are three methods of treatment:

1. Spraying - in this case, a solution is prepared: 1 gram of medicinal powder is mixed with 500 milliliters of boiled water. This liquid is sprayed two to three times on each side of the honeycomb, leaving an interval of four to five days. It is preferable to spray in warm weather.
2. Powdering - this method requires preparing a mixture of the following ingredients: the antibiotic is stirred in flour, powdered sugar and starch.
3. Feeding - this method requires mixing one gram of antibiotic in two liters of warm sugar syrup. Up to 200 milliliters of such liquid is enough for one cell. This method is suitable for use in spring.

You cannot pump out honey until two weeks have passed from the date of using the antibiotic. Oxytetracycline is incompatible for simultaneous use with the following substances: sulfonamides, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, cephalosporin, penicillin and aminoglycosides.

Treatment of bees with tetracycline. Dosage, rules of use

The dosage of the medicine is not affected by the chosen treatment method. It should be borne in mind that 0.05 grams of antibiotic is enough to treat one frame. When dusting, a total of six grams of the prepared dry mixture is used, and when spraying, 15 milliliters of the prepared liquid is enough.

It is necessary to treat the infected bee family three to four times at intervals of six to seven days until it is completely cured. In practice, this is usually enough to completely eliminate the clinical symptoms of the disease. After the treatment process is completed, beekeepers disinfect all working equipment, burn the remains of the affected hives and replace the queen.

How to dilute oxytetracycline hydrochloride for bees

The process of diluting an antibiotic for different methods of use looks like this:

1. When feeding - 500 milligrams of oxytetracycline are diluted in 1 liter of sugar syrup. For prevention purposes, mix 0.2 grams of the substance in 3.8 liters of syrup.
2. When choosing a spraying method, you need to dilute 50 grams of the active substance in 2 liters of warm boiled water. In this case, 30 milliliters of the finished solution is enough to treat one frame.

Side effects, contraindications, restrictions on use

The drug has contraindications for individuals who have hypersensitivity to the active substance, in particular to tetracycline antibiotics. It is prohibited to treat bees with oxytetracycline during honey collection. There are currently no data on overdose symptoms or side effects.

Shelf life and storage conditions

Oxytetracycline can be stored in closed containers at room temperature for two years. Storage conditions: dry place, away from direct sunlight.