ABJ article on pesticides

[danno]

Last night I read the article on systemic pesticide in ABJ.  I have been a Lic pesticide applicator for a long time.  I only spray herbicides so please dont go off on me.  The article made alot of sense.  For anyone that doesn't know what a systemic pesticide is, its works very slowly traveling through the entier organism and in the case of plants it kills the roots and all and it usually takes a week or more.  In the case of insects and animals, they could be miles away when it takes hold.  I hope they do more research into this particular chemistry.  My question however was about this product being used in the new treated lumber.  The author talked about migr. tops and bottom boards be sold that are treated.  I know many of you use this lumber and I was wondering if it has worked out satisfactory for you.  My stands are made out of 3- 22" treated 4x4s layed flat and nailed together. I got this idea out of one of the magazines a month or so ago.   My screen bottom boards sit on top of these.

[Michael Bush]

I would never use any kind of "treated" lumber INSIDE a beehive.  In stands, I don't see much problem.  The bees have no interest in the stands.

[my-smokepole]

But at the same time does it out gas.  :(Where the fumes would gas up into the hive.  Like so many product do. Like carpeting and vinly wallcover. Iknow that there is a bunch more that do just can't think of them right now.

[Brian D. Bray]

You must be making you stands very similar to the way I make mine, designed for bottomless hives.  I use treated 4X4 also but only use older stuff--the remnants of old fence posts I'm replacing.  I figure they've had plenty of time to out gas over the last 15-20 years and the bees pretty much ignore the stand.

[reinbeau]

So the pressure treated 4x4's we bought at Home Depot last night should be returned?  :-\

[Brian D. Bray]

So the pressure treated 4x4's we bought at Home Depot last night should be returned?  :-\

I would go ahead and use them.  In the version of the stand I use it is open enough to allow any outgassing to vent to the air, not into the hive.

[Michael Bush]

I use treated lumber for stands.  It's not inside the hive and the stands rot rather quickly if you don't.  A lot of the treated lumber I get is used.