The Blue Shop Towel Method for Tracheal Mite Control in Honey Bees

[stangardener]

for me the decision of a goverment, scientist, university etc. doesn't make a thing ok. that can make something leagel or illeagel though.
i put no faith in the scientific method as i know it.

[Keith Jarrett]

I'm just glad that more and more, whether it be Ernie or Keith or anyone else, are willing to mention what goes into their hives. Thus the bee industry and potential consumers can at least see what they are potentially buying.

Potentially buying....

Yes, that is correct, clean heathly bees! & combs!

Have you had your comb tested lately? I would NOT assume they are cleaner than mine! As I have had mine tested.

One should NOT throw rocks in a glass house!

Dog gone GEENEE'S away.

[Keith Jarrett]

[QUOTE=JohnK and Sheri;346345This subject is one of those touchy ones that potentially could lead to the divisiveness between commercial and hobbyists [/QUOTE]

And what is wrong with that

some hobby queen producers think they're commercial. LOL

we just let them think they're a legend in thier own mind.

[BEES4U]

My 0.02.
And I'll say again......To use chemicals that are not approved or standard within the bee industry, and then sell off nucs, hives and bees, to consumers, should be something to stop.

Can someone provide me with a list of approved chemicals that are standard and approved.
I do not think that we have one.
That is why I do the web searches to see what scientist are doing so that they can provide us the conclusion,s of their work.

The ABJ had a good article about the recipiants of 2008 SARE $ and I found that to be interesting.
Ernie

[Tom G. Laury]

Anybody else out there remember Ethylene DiBromide?

Perfectly legal, go down to Dadants for 5gal.

.

[JPK]

I think people are making more our of this than is justified but thats nothing more than my opinion obviously.

Personally I think its not a bad thing that there are people out there experimenting with treatments.

As to purchasing bees/queens/nucs from these people there's an old expression that people should be reminded of...."Buyer Beware"

Each of us have an obligation to ourselves to ask questions and make an educated purchase.....people/companies live/die on their reputations and if they burn enough people they'll suffer the consequences of decreased business.

[BEES4U]

Yes, I use to buy it in unlabeled cans.
Humm .I bet the tolerance level by todays standards is about 0.0000000 ppb.
The regulators have been trying to get the strawberry growers from using it for the past 20+ years.
Ernie

[Tom G. Laury]

Ernie Methyl Bromide is the soil fumigant that strawberry growers want to keep.

You could buy Ethylene DiBromide one of the deadliest substances known to man, label and all at your local bee supply house. Perfectly legal label and all.

[cow pollinater]

we just let them think they're a legend in thier own mind.

Funny, that's kind of how the rest of us tolerate YOU.

[BEES4U]

Tom,
I know that the berry growers want it keep it so that they can keep farming the same crop year after year. Well, at least until the houses come into view.

Ernie

[Tom G. Laury]

Yes Ernie and the houses get rid of the bees too, don't they?

[jjgbee]

We used to use Phenol on our fume boards. It was not as disgusting as Bee- Go. They outlawed it. TOO DANGEROUS. BAD FOR YOU. Guess what, Phenol at 1.4% is what you spray on the back of your throat for sore throat. Product is Chloriseptic Throat spray. Over the counter drug. GO FIGURE

[Aspera]

Phenol is also a carcinogen. Just because its over the counter, doesn't mean its safe for you to put in your throat.

[Ian]

my sometimes annual treatment insnt with a shop towel, but rather with a piece of cardboard,
works very well, and is recomended by our provincial apiarists
not sure how it is seen by the USDA

[BEES4U]

You are saying that you can purchase EDB at a bee supplier.
And, that's without an Agric. I.D. #
I can not buy Mite-a-way 11 without a permit.
The tolerance for EDB in honey is very low and if your hobey contaminates a batch you get to pay for it's disposal!

Regards,
Ernie

[Tom G. Laury]

Ernie hi;

I'm not saying you can, just that you could, about 30 years ago. I brought this up because as pointed out in a preceding post, just because it's over the counter, doesn't mean it's safe. Yes you could go to Dadants in Fresno and buy EDB in 5 gal. cans, no permit required. It was used for moth control.

Approved chemicals can be abused just as easily as materials that are not registered for certain uses.

Sherri makes a good point:
Domestic "commercial" honey is intensely scrutinized, now even for bacteria . How much "hobby" or back door product is?

[BEES4U]

I guess it's still available
http://cphst.aphis.usda.gov/tqau/phos_pellet-l-0104.pdf

Ernie

[Tom G. Laury]

Yes it is. You do need a permit. That is an excellent material, kills WM eggs too. Then it's gone.

[high rate of speed]

Well I guess if commercial guys werent doing all of the trial and error,we would all be out of business,waiting on the universities,to solve our problems.

[BEES4U]

It sure is lonely at the top when you are a leader.
How does that olsd saying go/
Either leed, follow or get out of the way.
Ernie