Sorry about taking so long to post this but swarming season got in the way. I actually received my order of HM back on March 27th. One thing led to another and I didn't get to install them in the hives within the 2 week suggested time frame. This order was distributed in my garden.
I ordered another 2ltr, received them May 8th. Yesterday, I added 1 cup of the material they are shipped in to the top bars of the upper super on 8 of my largest colonies. I figured the application should be simple. I didn't break the hives down to the brood nest. I simply evenly distributed the material across the upper frames. They come shipped in peat moss so the bees should be able to clean up any mess I might have made. These mites are pretty mobile so I would think this method should distribute them pretty well.
The one cup addition is larger than the 150ml dose suggested. Even at that dose rate, 2ltr will treat approx. 10 colonies. Some of these colonies are pretty big. I just wanted to make sure that I got enough HM in them to make a difference.
Now I suppose we just see how they do. SHB haven't really started to ramp up yet. I have seen wax moth larvae in my bottom traps. The trap trays are dry I'm going to add some potting soil to 4 of them just to see if the HM will reproduce.
(http://s15.postimg.org/y23ha2ktj/20140509_181003.jpg) (http://postimg.org/image/y23ha2ktj/)
thanks, keep us posted.
Eager to hear your results!
Way to go.
in the garden and in the hives
here's hoping
jay