Seen This?

[Rookie]

I don't know if it is allowed to name other web sites, but the web site WWW.newfarm.org (http://WWW.newfarm.org) has an article about a fungus that looks to control mites. Anyone seen this before? The article is on the main page toward the bottom dated Oct. 14

[BjornBee]

If its as straight forword and effective as they say, I'm in line to try it. Sounds promising. Thats the first I heard of anything like it before.

[Michael Bush]

Maybe now everyone will stop worrying about the fungus in their syrup... http://www.beesource.com/ubb/smile.gif

Sounds wonderful.

There has been much research and it has been used to kill everything from cockroaches and sugar beet worms to termites. There are several strains.

Here's the EPA fact sheet on it:
http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/biopesticides/ingredients/factsheets/factsheet_129056.htm

Here's the grasshopper formula.
http://lubilosa.org/

More info:
http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/mbcn/kyf607.html

They said it was the formulation for termites. The only one I can find is BioBlast. Here is where you can get that.
http://www.dfwpest.com/pestsupply.shtm

But, of course, we don't know precisely how they used it or for sure if the editor took some license saying it was used for termites when the strain they used might be the one used for termites or it might be a different one.

[magnet-man]

Well I think we are up s*** creek! Ecoscience the only producer I could find is out of business. See attach link. http://www.shulaw.com/securities/ecoscience.asp
The product was also very expensive 57 grams had a price tag of $124!



[This message has been edited by magnet-man (edited October 20, 2004).]

[Dave W]

Greetings . . .

"Fungal Pathogens (Hirsutella, Metarhizium, and M. anisopliae (Bio-Blast) resulted in satisfactory control of mite populations and were as effective as Apistan, even 42 days after application."
- ABJ, Oct '03, p817

More info at Forum2/HTML/001407,
see jfischer comments, 3/17/04

[This message has been edited by Dave W (edited October 20, 2004).]

[Michael Bush]

I called around to see if Bio-Blast was available. The places I called said it was no longer on the market.

[magnet-man]

It would be nice to know where ARS Beneficial Insects Research Unit got their samples.

[Branman]

yipes, thats pricey stuff

[rwjedi]

I called a place called Epestsupply. And from the coversation I had (short coversation) with the person who answered the phone it appears the company that used to make it might have gone out of business. Ok everybody pony up $100 we'll start our own company to make the stuff. LOL

Rod

[magnet-man]

From what I read the fungus will reproduce on the dead mites. All you really need is a sample of the fungus and mites, and you can make all the spores you want. When I say all you want, I mean on a non-commercial basis.

I honestly don’t believe this product will make it to market or if it does it won’t last. It will be too easy to culture by your average beekeeper.

[Axtmann]

Has anyone an idea how the fungus works on eggs, larva or bee pupa?

[magnet-man]

It does not affect them.

[Axtmann]

Magnet-man

I found the manufacturer of the fungus metarhizium anisoliae. It is the same company who made the test with oxalic acid against Varroa mites. http://www.mellifera.de/engl2.htm
I think the fungus kills not the bees but the larva or pupa. But send a message to the manufacturer I’m sure they send you an answer.

http://www.google.ca/search?q=cache:Km7RCtWkDlwJ:www.yarl.prosser.wsu.e du/Scientists/Lacey/LaceyShapiro.pdf+Andermatt+Metarhizium&hl=en

[magnet-man]

Axtmann, thanks for your link. The first two links work but the third does not.

However in the first two links and related site I don't see any mention of metarhizium anisoliae. Am I missing somethine?

[This message has been edited by magnet-man (edited October 23, 2004).]

[This message has been edited by magnet-man (edited October 23, 2004).]