Diseases, Mites, Pests & Controls
by Bill Troup, Maryland Bee Inspector, Maryland Department of Agriculture
What is in Your Beehive? Is There a Legal Case for Bee-Go?
Note: We do not use any of these chemicals in our
hives. However, we wanted beekeepers and the general public to know
what many beekeepers use in their hives. - Flickerwood Apiary
Yes it does stink! Whether you have used bee-go or Honey-Robber to
remove honey supers or otherwise manipulate bees, these products do
leave smelly residues. But, how much of a stink with residues,
contamination and adulteration to our honey are we creating by using
these products. Do any of us legally know the status of these products?
Have we just taken using these products for granted? Let us take a
closer look at the control products that we apply to our bee colonies.
Let us review and summarize the legal origins and documentation for
these products.
Apistan:
A plastic strip impregnated with Fluvalinate, is a registered
section (3) general use contact control for Varroa Mites, to be applies
in a non surplus honey production period of 42-56 days.
Checkmite:
A plastic strip impregnated with Coumaphos, is an Emergency use,
Special Exemption Section (18) contact control for Varroa Mites and
Small Hive Beetles, to be applied in a non surplus honey production
period for 45 treatment days. (Note: Follow label instructions for
special application)
Api Life-Var:
An oasis type material impregnated with Thymol, Eucalyptus Oil and
L-Menthol, is a Special Exemption Section (18) emergency use fumigant
for Varroa Mites, to be used in a non surplus honey production period
for 32 treatment days. (Note: Follow label instructions for special
application)
Apicure:
A formic Acid Gel formulation, is a registered section (3) general
use fumigant control for Tracheal Mites and Varroa Mite suppression, to
be applied in a non surplus honey production period for 21 treatment
days. (Note: This control product is not currently available.)
Mite-A-Thol:
An L-Menthol dry crystal based product, is a registered section (3)
general use fumigant control for Tracheal Mites to be applied in a non
surplus honey production period for 21 treatment days of 70° F, and not
to exceed 90° F temperatures. (Note: Various application methods exist
for this control: familiarize yourself with them and follow label
instructions.)
Sucrocide:
A Sucrose Octanoate Ester derived Biochemical Miticides, is a
registered section (25B) general use spray control for Varroa Mites to
be applied even during surplus honey production, but not at
temperatures below 55° F or on winter cluster at the first sighting of
Varroa mites. (Note: Read label instructions for special mixing and
application)
Terramycin:
A broad-Spectrum Oxytetracycline HCL Antibiotic, is a registered
section (25B) general use dust/ingested control for the prophylactic
control and treatment of light infestation/ non scale stage of AFB and
application for EFB and PMS. (Note: Prophylactic use of this product is
highly discouraged, due to recent resistant strains of AFB)
Fumagilin-B: (Formally Fumidil-B)
A fumagilin-B derived Antibiotic, is a registered section (3)
general use liquid ingested control as an aid in the prevention of
Nosema disease. To be used when feeding bees in the fall and spring.
(Note: The objective is to have this product present in winter feed
stores for the bees to consume during long term confinement periods.)
Para-Moth:
A dry crystal formulation of Paradichlorobenzene, is a registered
section (3) general use fumigant control for Wax Moth in stored combs.
To be applied to the inside on top of a stack of supers/brood combs.
(Note: Follow label instructions for detailed applications.)
Garstar 40%:
A premise/ground drench permethrin based insecticide, is a
registered section (25B) general use liquid contact control for SHB
larvae/pupal stages to be applied to the ground/premise occupied by bee
equipment where SHB larvae may exist to pupate. (Note: Follow label
instructions for special mixing and application.)
Bee-Go:
An N-Butyric Anhydride based bee repellent, is a non registered
control product. Prior to 1998, use of Butyric Anhydride by beekeepers
was permitted by a "Special Exemption from the requirement for a
tolerance" for the chemical Synonym Butanoic Anhydride in the EPA
regulations. In 1998 the EPA revoked the exemption for Butyric in honey
leaving it with only one possible agriculture application, as a
packaged animal feed additive intended to repel bugs that might get
into the feed. Quite an eye opener, HUH! EPA does not consider a bee
repellent as a pesticide. Federal regulations state that a product
intended to force bees from the hives for the collection of a honey
crop is not a pesticide. However, many state laws require that any
product that kills, destroys, repels, etc. must be registered in their
state as a pesticide. Is this then an FDA issue?
The FDA register of documents indicates that Butyric Anhydride as
well as the product Bee-Go was also cancelled by the FDA for the use as
a hive fumigant on honey comb and adult bees. Thus, if the FDA
cancelled a product, then it must be cancelled by the state. Why then
do our bee supply companies still offer these products. Is this yet but
another honey scandal just waiting to explode? Does this boil down to a
state by state enforcement issue, or an ethical issue on the part of
every beekeeper involved? Should then we not stir in this anymore for
fear of making a bigger stink; and it does stink considerably already.
Good questions to which we do not have all the answers.
Just remember, the Maryland Department of Agriculture registers the
aforementioned products for you to se responsibly in your beekeeping
operations and the state is thus liable for your proper use and or
misuse of these products. We are talking here about every beekeepers
ethical and moral obligation to curtail the use of products in their
beekeeping practices that are not registered for such use.
Please read and follow all label instructions carefully and contact
your State Regulatory Officials for further guidance and assistance on
us of Control Products.
Article Contributed by:
Bill Troup
Honeyfield Apiary
10618 Honeyfield Road
Williamsport, MD
301 223 9662
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