Thanks for sharing. So how exactly did you apply the diatomaceous earth? Just around the hives on the ground? Or in-hive application?
Just around the hives on the ground. Basically a perimeter around each hive. Try not to get any inside the hive or on any bees.Thanks for sharing. So how exactly did you apply the diatomaceous earth? Just around the hives on the ground? Or in-hive application?
You are correct. I assume there are plenty of untreated hives in my area. I also screen the top vent holes. Most hives have only the notched inner cover, but some have extra holes for the feeder box. I screen off all possible entrances except the bottom landing board. This also helps to prevent wax moths from entering the hives.I was under the impression that adult beetles would fly for miles to the scent of a beehive. We luckily dont have a problem with them here in Colorado, but there are always random sightings around the time that packages from down south show up in the spring. I have only seen a few in my hives ever, and they showed up when the neighbor bought 20 packages a few years back. Luckily we have pretty heavy clay here which is not great for their reproduction. I don't doubt that the diatomaceous earth kills the larvae and the adults from your hive, but how many hundreds of hives do you think are around you that don't get treated as such?