>>        Wonderful stuff, this borax is:  Kills ants in a fairly
>>environmentally benign way (though soap is even better, I'll try that IF I
>>know where the nests are!);  Cures hollow heart in turnips;  is a necessary
>>soil nutrient for alfalfa;  and takes propolis out of Joel's families
>>clothes thus furthering marital harmony!
>>
>
>        There's a darker side to borax, which is why I've wondered about the
>"environmentally benign" comments.  It's used to "sterilize" soil, so
>_nothing_ will grow there...places like driveways and the like.   Another of
>these chemicals that's necessary at one level, but deadly at a higher level.
>Use with care.
>--
 
Actually, just the detergent and water should be adequate to reduce the
surface tension of most insects' outersurface (exoskeleton?) so that they
drown in the water supplied with the detergent.  I would be very careful
using the detergent on the supers to be sure to flush the supers to remove
all the detergent.  It could also kill the bees.  If you stop getting
bubbles while flushing, it is probably clean.
 
 
Doug Russell
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