This upcoming week the temperatures will be in the 60's for highs. If there is some unfinished bee work to do, now is the time to finish.
Oxalic Acid treatments should be applied. Either the dribble or Vaporizer method work fine. Try to put these treatments on when it is around 40 degrees at the time of treatment. At that temperature, the bees are clustered and the treatments work much better than if applied when it is 60 degrees out.
Feeding: Don't feed for the sake of feeding. If your bees have enough winter stores, do not feeding the bees syrup. When the bees take down syrup, the colony will be stimulated and egg laying may start again. If a beekeeper feeds all week, there may be a big patch of fresh eggs laid. Now the hive will have brood in the colony probably into December. The bees have to keep the brood warm and will consume part of their winter stores to achieve this. Plus, by having brood in the colony, mites will move into the brood, increasing the mite numbers in the colony.
If you have to feed, do an oxalic acid treatment first, to knock down the existing mite population. Then feed as rapidly as possible. Best to use ProSweet so the bees don't have to dehumidify the syrup.
When the chores are done, cover the hives with a winter wrap and wish them luck for the upcoming winter.
