Can Checkmite plus kill honeybees? I had a terrible SHB problem. I put a few strips in each of 2 supers, upper and lower, 8 frame deeps. I have noticed a couple dozen dead bees in the front of the hive (on the ramp) a couple of days later. They were all small bees, like nurse bees. It might be just coincidence and house cleaning from the winter. That's why I thought I'd ask here.
Thank you in advance for any ideas, advice.
Quote from: Cyberman on March 11, 2022, 12:38:29 PM
Can Checkmite plus kill honeybees? I had a terrible SHB problem. I put a few strips in each of 2 supers, upper and lower, 8 frame deeps. I have noticed a couple dozen dead bees in the front of the hive (on the ramp) a couple of days later. They were all small bees, like nurse bees. It might be just coincidence and house cleaning from the winter. That's why I thought I'd ask here.
Thank you in advance for any ideas, advice.
Cyberman 'WELCOME' to beemaster!!I have not used Checkmite or Checkmite Plus. I have read concerns by some of wax contamination with some products, I am not sure if this product is one of those.
I am surprised that you would have a terrible SHB problem this time of year, even in your area. Some overwintered SHB in the hives perhaps. Have you noticed SHB larva as well?
Welcome to Beemaster, Cyberman! :happy: I've never personally used Checkmite either, but a couple dozen bees doesn't sound too bad, especially considering spring cleaning this time of year. Exactly how many strips did you put in each box? An overdose of course would be more prone to affecting the bees negatively, although most mite treatments will usually take a few bees with them even when dosed properly.
Cyberman following is three topics which have mentioned checkmite. You might find some interesting information in these by entering them individually into your search engine above. Especially the first one.. I would suggest listening closely to what Michael Bush has to say...
Phillip
"Hopguard (3) is not an effective mite treatment"
"checkmite +"
"Mite Question for van from Arkansas"
Cyberman,
Welcome to Beemaster.
Check out the BeeFest link below. It starts this coming Friday.
Jim Altmiller
The active ingredient in checkmite.. Is Cumophous. This ingredient will get stuck in beeswax... I knowing about 2010.. The USDA... In Bellsville Maryland..USA Was steadying effects on honeybees... It actually killed sperm inside Live Drone bees.
As well as killed sperm inside of live Queen bees... Making them less infertility . Too completely infertile.
So the short answer is ..It will not kill your bees directly.....Of course it will contaminate the comds.. Which will keep on giving...
BEE HAPPY Jim134 :smile:
Welcome Cyberman. Cumophous does contaminate the wax, but doesn't kill healthy bees unless overdosed. Mites developed a tolerance to it. There is a human health aspect and one should avoid contact with the strips and keep them away from your face and wash gloves afterwards or throw away. Its still used on livestock as an external pest killer. If it was as deadly as some say, we would have had a lot of dead beekeepers and cattlemen. But still to be respected.
rast, If you believe Cumophous is Metabolize in an insect.. The Shame as a human being.. Most likely you're Correct.. All the commercial beekeepers have stopped using Cumophous years
a go..
BEE HAPPY Jim134 :smile:
Rast and Jim 134 your points of 'Checkmite' with the ingredient 'Cumophous' are well made as an eye opener. Thanks to you both. My question; Does 'Checkmite Plus' contain any amount of 'Cumophous'?
Thanks,
Phillip
Quote from: Ben Framed on March 12, 2022, 06:19:23 PM
Rast and Jim 134 your points of 'Checkmite' with the ingredient 'Cumophous' are well made as an eye opener. Thanks to you both. My question; Does 'Checkmite Plus' contain any amount of 'Cumophous'?
Thanks,
Phillip
Google tells me both products. Contain the same active ingredient...
BEE HAPPY Jim134 :smile:
yep, 10% on the label.
Quote from: Ben Framed on March 12, 2022, 06:19:23 PM
Rast and Jim 134 your points of 'Checkmite' with the ingredient 'Cumophous' are well made as an eye opener. Thanks to you both. My question; Does 'Checkmite Plus' contain any amount of 'Cumophous'?
Thanks,
Phillip
Jim 134QuoteGoogle tells me both products. Contain the same active ingredient...
rastQuoteyep, 10% on the label.
Thanks again to you both as well as
The15thMember, who participated in posting here on this subject. Perhaps this will be a help, not only to
Cyberman, but any of the rest of us who might not have been informed about thoughts of this product or its ingredient Cumophous. (Including myself). Any other views, pro or con, are welcome as always....
Phillip
Just remember checkmite only has... To put on the label the active ingredient.. Which is Cumophous only 10%... Who knows what the other 90% is ?? Now let's say you put in a chemical for EFB European Foul brood .. By law the Manufacture only have to give you the active ingredient in the product you use.. With perhaps Another 85 to 90% ..Does not have to be declared... Now 2 or more undeclared chemicals get together.. Can make a bunch of deadly chemicals for bees and mankind.. A professor called Mary Ann Frasia.. Has done a lot of work on this type of cross contamination.. I believe she's from Pennsylvania agriculture University..
BEE HAPPY Jim134 :smile: