Hop Guard

[akb]

Have any of you used it.
How effective is it?
Thanks

[Oldtimer]

Was going to use it, then discovered it only lasts a few days, so will not get rid of the mites if there is brood in the hive. During broodless periods it may be OK.

[mmiller]

Was going to use it, then discovered it only lasts a few days, so will not get rid of the mites if there is brood in the hive. .

I hadn't heard or read this before. Can you point me where you did? I'm not doubting, just interested.

I know a beek who is using it this year. His hives had a pretty high vorrora count. Using a sticky board he had a big mite drop for a few days that then tapered off (don't know the numbers). The paperwork that came with the hop guard suggested using 3 times (spring, summer and fall) which he intends to do. So far he is pleased and is using it on all 12 of his hives. His method of mite checking is using a powdered sugar roll and he is currently only seeing a couple mites on average per hive.
I am also using the sugar roll for counting mites in my hives and feel that at this time I don't have an issue so I don't plan on treating. If my numbers increase I intend to use the hop guard.

Mike

[Oldtimer]

I hadn't heard or read this before. Can you point me where you did? I'm not doubting, just interested.

Can't give you any links because it's a series of emails I had with the company.

I read their web site and a few things stood out, like they gave figures for numbers of mites killed, but not percentages (which is the important part), or counts following treatment (which is also important)

I would expect those figures to be provided following testing of any product that worked properly.

Then I read on, and it said they had to re-treat some of the test hives shortly after the end of a treatment, the reasons why were a little vague. ( However at least they were honest enough to say so).

So, I emailed the company, and among other questions asked how long the hopguard remains active in the hive, and what percentage of mites were actually killed. I was told that the amount of time it remains active in the hive is "a few days", and the percentage question was not answered.

I then asked if it kills mites in the brood, it does not. That is why they recommend a treatment during the broodless period, plus two other treatments during the year. As we do not have a broodless period where I am, hopguard is not for me.

It may well work for people who have a broodless period, but the question about what percentage of mites it killed went unanswered.