Oxalic acid is sold at the hardware store as wood bleach. Beekeepers heat it into a gas and pump it directly into their hives to fight Varroa destructor. In this episode, we go deep on vaporized oxalic acid (OAV): where it came from, how it actually works at a biological level, and what the real research says.
My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/
Check out my beekeeping vlog: www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog
SOURCES AND FURTHER READING
Links to the studies and extension resources referenced in this episode are at: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/2026/08/01/podcast-episode-show-notes-vaporized-oxalic-acid-for-varroa-mites-history-science-real-trade-offs/
You can listen to The Pollen Nation Podcast on YouTube too!
Subscribe for more evidence based beekeeping content. Got questions or a topic you want covered? Drop it in the comments.