[ironworker]

if oxalic acid is used off label to treat mites and its agents' the law then so is a ether in a ether rool and sugar dusting ! correct?

 

[Phoebee]

If powdered sugar is even listed for pest control, it would be rated "GRAS" (Generally Recognized As Safe).

Ether and alcohol? Probably more of a fire marshal regulation issue.

 

[Rader Sidetrack]

I suspect the OP is essentially referring to an alcohol wash, used to sample for mites. Since the alcohol wash kills the sampled bees and they are not returned to the hive, it is not a treatment IMO.

 

[Phoebee]

The oxalic acid question posed is actually kind of interesting for another parallel. I've got bee books that say if you have to kill a hive (AFB, for example) you can use soapy water. This was used in that New Jersey truck wreck a few weeks back after some of this forum's members had rescued what they could.

Since oxalic acid is used as a cleaner (Barkeeper's Friend among other popular cleaners), in theory it would be no more off-label as an insecticide than dishwashing detergent. However, I don't want either one in my honey. It really would be interesting to look at this a little deeper. Maybe dishwashing detergent is in the same class and it is improper to use it to dispatch bees.