Frequently Asked Questions

You can view the list of our stockists by clicking here.

Regrettably, we do not offer direct sales.

That said, you can explore our list of stockists to locate a nearby supplier or an e-commerce platform stocking our products.

You’ll find plenty of resources on our product-specific pages, as well as in our online resource library, which you can access via this link.

Absolutely!

If you are a distributor, we’d be happy to provide brochures, videos, and point-of-sale materials to support your efforts.

If you represent a beekeeping school, please get in touch with us, and we can share educational resources, including guides on controlling varroa mites, optimising bee nutrition, and tackling the Asian hornet threat.

We’d be thrilled to assist! Please contact Séverine Délot, our Communications Manager, at +33 1 69 18 84 80 or by email at severine.delot@vetopharma.com.

You can view the list of our local representatives by clicking here.

Oxybee is sold within the European Union (except Austria).

The distribution network may vary from one country to another. Therefore, we recommend checking with your local distributor, which you can find via this link.

Oxybee is a veterinary medicine that does not require a prescription.

Please contact your local distributor for more information on how to purchase Oxybee in your country.

Oxybee is a veterinary medicine containing oxalic acid dihydrate (3.5%), glycerol, sucrose, and essential oils of anise and eucalyptus.

The formulation of oxalic acid combined with sucrose and glycerol has been shown to increase the mortality rate of varroa mites in laboratory tests.(1,2) This effect is attributed to the formation of small, long-lasting droplets within the colony (enhanced hygroscopy), which allows for better distribution of the oxalic acid solution in the hive.(1,2)

Field studies have demonstrated that Oxybee is more effective than a standard formulation of oxalic acid and sucrose.(3)

References:
1 - CVMP Assessment Report for Oxybee (EMEA/V/C/004296/0000) – 2017
2 - Milani (2001) - Activity of oxalic acid and citric acids on the mite Varroa destructor in laboratory assays - Apidologie 32 (2001) 127–138 © INRA/DIB-AGIB/EDP Sciences, 2001
3 - Poster: G. Braun et al., DVG-Fachgruppentagung “Parasitologie und parasitäre Krankheiten”, Hannover, Germany, June 12-14, 2017

Oxybee is recommended for use during the brood-free period because it is a single-application treatment that targets only the phoretic mites (mites on adult bees). It is typically applied at the end of autumn or in winter, when the queen stops laying eggs, and the bees form a winter cluster.

If you wish to use Oxybee while there is brood in your hives (such as in winter in southern countries, or during periods without supers on your hives), you will need to create an artificial brood break:

• By caging the queen for 25 days prior to treatment, a widely used method in Italy.
• Or by completely removing the brood or splitting the colonies.

The outdoor temperature during application must be at least 3°C. However, we recommend a temperature of at least 15°C.

When using Oxybee for the first time or reusing the mixture after storing it in the refrigerator, placing the bottle in lukewarm water (30–35°C) will help the sucrose powder dissolve more easily in the solution, making it more comfortable for the bees.

Using a syringe or a dosing gun, apply Oxybee by dribbling 5 to 6 ml of the solution into each occupied bee space between two frames in the brood box. The solution should be dribbled directly onto the bees. Do not exceed 54 ml of solution per colony.

Oxybee should only be used in vertical frame hives where access is possible from the top.

A single 1 kg bottle of Oxybee can treat approximately 25 hives. The exact number will depend on the strength of your colonies, as 5 to 6 ml of Oxybee should be applied to each occupied bee space between the frames. The total amount administered to a single colony must not exceed 54 ml.

It is recommended to use Oxybee only once per worker bee generation. In most climates, natural brood breaks occur only once a year – typically in winter due to low temperatures and occasionally in summer due to high temperatures.

However, if necessary, Oxybee can also be applied during an artificial brood break, such as after queen caging, creating splits, or brood removal.

Yes, the active ingredient in Oxybee, oxalic acid, is approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for use in organic beekeeping.

However, we recommend contacting your local organic honey certifier to ensure compliance with their specific regulations.

The shelf life of Oxybee is 2 years from the date of manufacture.

Once the sachets of sucrose have been mixed with the oxalic acid dihydrate solution in the Oxybee bottle, the mixture can be stored in a refrigerator at a temperature below 8°C for up to one year.

Oxalic acid is a natural component of honey. Its concentration varies depending on the type of honey, ranging from 3 to 761 mg/kg.¹ Most honeys contain less than 200 mg/kg of oxalic acid.²

Research shows³ that the level of oxalic acid in honey increases only slightly, if at all, immediately after treatment, depending on the application method (dribbling, spraying, or sublimation). Therefore, minimal or no detectable residues of oxalic acid are typically found in honey following treatment.

References:
1 - Nanetti et al., 2003
2 - Wibbertmann, 2003
3 - Eva Rademacher, Marika Harz, "Oxalic acid for the control of varroosis in honeybee colonies – a review," Apidologie, Springer Verlag, 2006, 37(1), pp.98–120. hal-00892183

We recommend contacting your veterinarian, pharmacist, or local waste management services to determine the appropriate disposal method for your used Oxybee bottle, as regulations may vary by country. It's important to note that Oxybee should not be released into watercourses, as it can be harmful to fish and other aquatic organisms.

You can check the list of our distributors at this link.

The approach to feeding depends on the season and the objective:

• Protein patties: For rapid hive growth and quick brood production, choose protein patties and place them near the nurse bees and the brood nest, ideally on top of the frames in single-box hives or between the boxes in double hives.
• Liquid feed: MegaBee is one of the only products on the market that can be used in liquid form due to the small size of its particles.
• Dry powder: You can feed bees directly with MegaBee powder by placing it in a feeder, ensuring the product is protected from wind and moisture. Alternatively, it can also be placed directly on the tops of the frames by sprinkling the powder. However, dry feeding is not the recommended option for optimal absorption. Imagine trying to drink a powder through a straw; it’s much easier when the powder is mixed with other ingredients that enhance its absorption.

The most recommended method of use is feeding with protein patties

For optimal hive development, follow the '6-week rule' — provide fresh protein patties consistently for two brood cycles (approximately 6 weeks).

Be careful, as a sudden interruption in protein intake might force the hive to eliminate the brood, which would have a counterproductive effect.

Here’s a short story to illustrate this point:
You visit the apiary and provide some wonderful fresh protein patties to your hives. The bees recognise them, start consuming them, and kick-start that magical nutrition process. The queen begins laying eggs, the nurse bees start producing tons of royal jelly, and they fill those immature cells with it. The brood loves it. They start emitting more and more brood pheromones — 'Feed me' becomes 'FEED ME.'

...And then you don’t provide another patty. The nutrition runs out, and there isn’t enough natural pollen coming in. What are they forced to do? When they realise they have more brood than they can feed, they end up removing the brood.

The worst thing you can do is make your hive strong and then cut off their supply. Keeping the protein patties available for 4-6 weeks ensures enough time for the brood to develop, become nurse bees, and raise another generation of young, healthy bees. This will boost your hive’s growth and recovery.

We recommend avoiding olive oil, as bees do not like its taste. Research suggests that neutral oils, such as corn or canola oil, are preferred by bees. However, some beekeepers also use alternatives like palm, coconut, or flaxseed oil.

Don’t worry, it’s hard to go wrong!

Adjusting the consistency of MegaBee is simple. If it’s too dry, add syrup; if it’s too runny, let it rest and then add more powder. We recommend a soft texture, similar to a firm pancake batter, but some prefer a consistency closer to cookie dough. Experiment and find the mix that works best for you.

MegaBee is meticulously crafted to resist mould and spoilage. It remains stable for up to three years after its manufacturing date, ensuring its quality. Store it in a cool, dry place, and keep it sealed to prevent insects.

It seems like your sugar syrup may have boiled. When preparing thick syrup, we recommend heating the water first and then using it to dissolve the sugar. Boiling the sugar alters its chemical structure, and you’ll end up making hard candy.

Here’s a tip: natural sucrose-based sugar can have a drying effect. To make a softer patty, consider adding fructose to balance it out.

Not all pollen is complete; some types lack essential amino acids. MegaBee provides the 10 essential amino acids in the correct proportions, filling the nutritional gaps of deficient monofloral pollen sources. While the collected pollen is stored, MegaBee is consumed immediately. Just because you see your bees bringing in plenty of pollen doesn’t mean they’re eating it.

If your forager bees are busy but the nurse bees are slowing down due to a nutritional imbalance, that hive will eventually weaken. Feeding allows the bees more time to gather a diverse range of pollen, enabling them to create a well-balanced polyfloral bee bread that will be more useful later in the season.

Some types of pollen can also disrupt your bees’ gut pH balance, especially monofloral crops. MegaBee helps restore this balance with its acidic pH, ensuring your bees stay healthy and

Feed only what they can consume in 7 to 10 days, but feeding them for an extended period won’t harm them. Beekeeping is all about managing the population. While feeding and growing your colony, simply practice good hive management by managing the hive space to prevent swarming.

If the hive is healthy, they shouldn’t have any trouble consuming MegaBee in any form. However, if they aren’t eating it, just like when a dog refuses to eat, it’s often a sign that something is wrong with the hive.

Check for potential issues with the queen, diseases such as European or American foulbrood, Nosema, or signs of viruses.

Inspect the brood: are there eggs, larvae, or capped brood? If not, the queen is likely the issue. Unused patties are a signal to take a closer look at your hive. Most professional beekeepers use patties as a quick check to gauge hive health.

You can check the list of our distributors at this link.

• ≤ 10 hives: Sample all hives
• ≤ 20 hives: 6 to 10 colonies
• > 20 hives: At least 25% (minimum of 8 colonies)

We suggest sampling 300 bees (upper mark inside the white basket) for the most representative results. However, if the hive is not very populous, a sample of 200 bees (lower mark inside the white basket) can be used.

Yes, as long as you filter it carefully to remove the mites. It can be reused for up to ten tests.

No, this is not possible, as it tends to clump together because of moisture and any potential excretions from the bees during shaking.

This depends on how heavily you use it during injection, but typically, a 16-gram cartridge is sufficient for sampling 3 to 5 hives.

You’ll need 16-gram threaded CO2 cartridges (with a screw thread). These are available from some beekeeping equipment suppliers, in leisure stores (for bicycle pumps), and easily online.

To view the list of our stockists, click here.

We regret that we cannot sell directly to private customers.

However, our network of stockists can assist you, whether online or in physical stores.

To view the list of stockists, click here.

It’s straightforward!

Contact us at order@vetopharma.com with your request.

Our sales team will provide you with the necessary steps to become a VespaCatch stockist.

The VespaCatch attractant, specifically formulated for the Asian hornet, is an excellent choice. It is available in a 1 L bottle or convenient single-dose 10 ml sticks and has been thoroughly tested with proven results.

With the VespaCatch Select, which operates without drowning, you can alternatively use a protein-based attractant (like shrimp or pieces of fish) during the summer, as Vespa velutina workers tend to prefer proteins to sugary attractants at that time of year.

• At height: Suspend the trap from a branch, 1.5 to 3 meters (5 to 10 feet) above ground level.
• Near hive entrances: Position it on the ground or hang it close to the hive (some beekeepers secure it to the hive entrance guard).

• VespaCatch Select: Designed to allow bees to escape, this model prioritises their safety.
• VespaCatch Original: Operating via drowning, this trap is less selective. While it might capture some bees, the ratio is far lower compared to the number of hornets it effectively traps.

VespaCatch traps are built to last!

We’ve enhanced the quality of the plastic over the past few years to make them resistant to harsh weather and prolonged sun exposure, ensuring excellent durability.

The VespaCatch attractant is composed of natural plant extracts to attract Asian hornets and denatured alcohol to keep bees away. It’s a pesticide-free solution that operates using its olfactory power.

• For the VespaCatch Original: Replace the attractant when the trap is full or every 3 weeks.
• For the VespaCatch Select: Refresh the attractant every 3 weeks to maintain its olfactory effectiveness.

Yes, you can use homemade mixtures, such as beer, syrup, and white wine. However, these DIY attractants are typically less selective and may lure other insects.

The VespaCatch attractant, on the other hand, is specifically formulated to optimise the capture of Asian hornets while reducing non-target captures.

Not necessarily. We recommend avoiding the use of soap, as it may diminish the trap’s effectiveness. If needed, rinse the traps with water only.

Also, consider leaving one hornet (dead or alive) inside the trap when refreshing the attractant, as this helps attract others.

• Check the placement: Traps should be located in areas of high hornet activity, such as near hives, water sources, or hedgerows.
• Ensure the attractant is effective: Confirm that it’s properly installed and still active. Note that below 15°C, attractants may become less effective.
• Relocate the trap: If captures are still minimal, try moving it to a more active location.