Use of Aizawai or ZenTari

Bt has many varieties and each one impacts a different group of insects. BtA (XenTari) does work on wax moths and a variety of others. However, be sure that BtA is the actual variety of Bt that you use because the wrong variety will not work and some of the varieties actually have a negative impact on bees.

HTH

Rusty

Does the Xen Tari actually attract bees (swarms?) or is it only for wax moth. So if it's BtA then it's OK? Just to be sure.
Tanya

Bacillus thuringiensis 'Aizawai' is the strain that works against wax moth larvae, but is generally harmless to honey bees. It is often sold under various brand names, so be careful, make sure that what is used with honey bees is not a different strain or combination of strains.

XenTari or ZenTari is just a brand name, not the name of the strain of Bt.

Joseph is correct.

There are a number of different Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) varieties, each of which targets different insects. For instance a commonly available Bt variety is 'isrealensis' used against mosquito larva (often in the form of 'dunks' that are intended for ponds.) Make sure you get Aizawai variety to deal with wax moths - other varieties of Bt target different pests.

Another brand name for Bt v. Aizawai is Agree WG, but that does not seem to be available in small quantities online.

I seem to have gotten two threads going about this...

It was a good learning experience to find out about this Bt. Thank you very much for your information. Not sure where I will get it but will look around.

Tanya

XenTari is available here:

http://www.amazon.com/Xentari-XenTari-BT/

HTH


Rusty

Thanks, Rusty.

Tanya

Re: Use of Bt Aizawai or Xen Tari

For those interested in the Xen Tari brand of Bacillus thuringiensis 'Aizawai', it is presently available again through Amazon.

This Bacillus thuringiensis 'Aizawai' strain is the only Bt strain that is known to be very effective against wax moth larva (both species - greater and lesser), yet virtually harmless to humans and honey bee brood and adults. There are many other strains of Bt that are effective against various other pest insects. Some of these other Bt strains can be harmful to honey bees. If you're adventurous, be careful, some Bt products contain combinations of Bt strains, in order to be effective against a larger variety of target pests. There are also some Bt products that carry inert ingredients that may be directly harmful to some non-target creatures, such as our honey bees.

I like to apply the Bt to my idle combs, to help ensure that they still exist, when I'm ready to reuse them in my hives.

Re: Use of Bt Aizawai or Xen Tari

It is approved to be sprayed on food for human consumption, such as almonds in storage.

Re: Use of Bt Aizawai or Xen Tari

What's the recommended concentration? I've heard everything for 1 teaspoon per 1 gal of water to 4 teaspoons per gallon. Also, I don't use queen excluders so I'll be spraying some honey supers as well. Any residual taste or danger?

Re: Use of Bt Aizawai or Xen Tari

I haven't noticed any. I mix about a tsp in my 1 gal sprayer.
It is approved for honey super use in Europe & canada under the label B401 Certan.
Also approved under organic standards in the EU.
http://www.vita-europe.com/products/b401/

Re: Use of Bt Aizawai or Xen Tari

Ok, thanks Dan!

Re: Use of Bt Aizawai or Xen Tari

All the new members need to see this thread, Waxmoths got me twice, Ed

You need to very careful as BT does have a shelf life. Mine lasted 3 years and I had kept it in air conditioned office. I checked my supers after spraying this year and they had moths!! I did catch them in time and reapplied a new batch of BT.

snl said:

You need to very careful as BT does have a shelf life. Mine lasted 3 years and I had kept it in air conditioned office. I checked my supers after spraying this year and they had moths!! I did catch them in time and reapplied a new batch of BT.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up, Ed

snl said:

You need to very careful as BT does have a shelf life. Mine lasted 3 years and I had kept it in air conditioned office. I checked my supers after spraying this year and they had moths!! I did catch them in time and reapplied a new batch of BT.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up, Ed

I had some azawaii powder in a ziplock bag 6 years that still worked. I finally bought a new pound of it to share with friends.

KQ6AR said:

I had some azawaii powder in a ziplock bag 6 years that still worked. I finally bought a new pound of it to share with friends.

Click to expand...

I guess you're the lucky one, but I'll buy every other year from here on out........cheap insurance and I won't have to be "looking" in on them to make sure it's working............

Excellent to catch this thread. Just found a few larvae this morning and already ordered from Amazon. :bus