View Full Version : how often to treat
King bee apiary
06-12-2005, 03:41 PM
I am using guardstar to treat for shb and was wondering how often to treat,can not find it anywhere on the container?
Thanks
King bee, I don't have that answer but another aspect which has gotten attention is that spraying the area directly around the hive is not always effective. The beetles often look for shaded areas to lay and will travel some distance from the hive to do so. I'm interested if you have beetles there yet, what kind of population and how effective the treatment is. Please let us know what you find out about time and your opinion of the effectiveness.
King bee apiary
06-12-2005, 06:03 PM
Well I have four hives and three are infected with beetles,I would say somewhere between 50-150 beetles est.but have treated 2 foot radious around the hives but not effective at all.
Hive population is full blown with 2 brood box's and super,one weak hive with just 1 full brood box and half of another.
Which is why I was asking how often you could use quard star drench.
So far the beatles DO NOT SEEM to be bothering the hives or bees,they are just there.....bothering the beekeeper....
Our queen breeder lost a heap of mating nucs to beetles this spring and indicated they used Cumophos with no success. I would be genuinely concerned about the numbers you are seeing. I know a man in SC who runs a "bee city" and is using paper towels soaked with canola oil on the bottom board (rear). He states the beetles crawl under the towel, get a coating of oil and it kills them(I assume like dormant oil). He claims he and his cohorts are having success with this. I never bet the ranch on non-tested cures but it may be worth a try. Good Luck
Waysouth
06-13-2005, 06:59 PM
King bee apiary
I use the GuardStar monthly, unless it rains (then I use it more) - I keep the beetles at a reasonable level. Are you using SBB's? Joel is right, of course, about them travelling (and you always have the occasionally helpful worker bee carry a few larvae out to ??? You are doing great with the strong hive defense :) Let the girls help !
Mike
King bee apiary
06-13-2005, 09:05 PM
I am not using ssb but have plans on making some.How far away from the hives do you pour your guardstar?I did roughly a foot around the hives..
If I come up with the funds I plan on putting some beetle traps on the hives.
Thanks.
Waysouth
06-14-2005, 03:58 PM
I generally do about a foot on the sides and back, but more like 3-4 feet on the front (I try to get the ones that the girls carry out the front door and then drop) I use a flower sprinkler can
I found it! Guard Star claims a 2 month "residual
effect. I'm sure this must be affected by rainfall but it at least gives you a guide.