I live in cotton country in the TX panhandle. I've never used cotton or raw cotton fiber as smoker fuel. I do use cotton burrs which is a by-product of the ginning process. It contains some lint, stems, hulls etc. Most all the producers around here are now using BT cotton. In three years I have never seen my bees have a bad reaction to cotton burr smoker fuel.
What is the source of your cotton fiber? Are you sure it hasn't been treated with something during processing?
I may be wrong, but isn't the bacillus thurengensis toxin the same thing that's in the Xentari powder Barry sells to treat stored combs against wax moth attact? If it is, it is non toxic to bees.
What is the source of your cotton fiber? Are you sure it hasn't been treated with something during processing?
I may be wrong, but isn't the bacillus thurengensis toxin the same thing that's in the Xentari powder Barry sells to treat stored combs against wax moth attact? If it is, it is non toxic to bees.