I need to start monitoring for mites for my new hive. (I'm a nubee). Does anyone have an opinion about using powdered sugar that has 4 percent tapioca starch mixed with it? Will there be any harm in that?
Wouldn't think so. Just like powdered sugar with cornstarch, it will dessicate uncapped larvae that it comes in contact with and can kill some. If your hive is weak, consider waiting. If you have mites over the treatment threshold or a booming, healthy hive, don't worry about it too much.
Any suggestions on ways to find 100 percent powdered sugar?
If you want to buy it, ask a fancy baker who their supplier is...but it'll be expensive.
It is far easier to take granulated sugar and pulse it in a blender or food processor.
Cool, thank you for the advice. I was wondering if I could do that. Wasn't sure if a blender could grind it finely enough.
my opinion is don't use it.let the bees take care of the mites themselves.im a chemical free beekeeper and want to stay that way. ....schawee
Schawee...I know what you mean. It would probably be better for the world for everyone to just let natural selection take its course. The problem, of course, is money. I've invested so much in these bees, and I hate to see them die over the winter. Plus...I'm kin of attached to the little creatures...
Yep...I'm using powdered sugar right now, but every year as I expand I'd like to leave a couple more hives untreated. Then rear queens like mad from the survivors. I'm just trying to build up to the point where I can stand to lose a few. I know that losing bees is the core of selecting for strong ones, but back when I only had two hives I definitely couldn't see the point of going cold turkey since even a single loss would eliminate a lot of the resources I would use to cope with other problems. I know I could buy in queens from survivor stock, but it galls me to buy queens when my own are doing fine.
jim, i know what you are saying.look at your bees and see if you have a mite problem.if you don't see any or just a few don't worry.let the bees do their thing and they will take care of the mites.if you really have to use powdered sugar then go head with it,but do it as the last resort. .....schawee
Quote from: jimhuck on June 20, 2011, 03:38:17 PM
I need to start monitoring for mites for my new hive. (I'm a nubee). Does anyone have an opinion about using powdered sugar that has 4 percent tapioca starch mixed with it? Will there be any harm in that?
Although some brood will/might get killed during powdered sugar treatments it will never be enough to justify not doing it. The mites WILL kill your hive. I'd take the chances with powdered sugar any day. :-D
I personally would prefer powdered sugar without any kind of starch but have had to use the "other stuff" many times with positive results.
I also worry about the powdered sugar shakes being disruptive and stressful on the hive. You are supposed to do it 3xs, a week apart. Maybe it was my technique but with a 3 deep brood chamber, it seemed like it really disturbed the girls to get the ps down in all 3 boxes. And I couldn't tell from the mite count that it did any good.
If you want 100% powdered sugar, make it yourself. Run your sugar though the blender to powder it.