Silica dust could act as a desiccant and abrasive. In the brood nest, it
can cause aborting of brood.
When Mt St Helen's dusted the Pacific NW, I saw brood problems; especially
in hives with bad boxes - lots of holes and cracks, where the dust could
sift in to the hive.
Now, St Helen's blanketed areas, like a snow storm; so the DOSE was very
high. On the other hand, desiccants have been used as insecticides.
Jerry
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