GV>   I would hope not.  Terra breaks down quickly when moist.  Many people
  >put it in the (oil-based) patties, but it can't be put in water.
 
Hi Gerry,
 
This is not what beekeepers have reported and my own experience. Water
soluble TERRAMYCIN (R) though not 100% stable in water is 100% effective
for the bee diseases it is recommend for. The formula for bees, cows,
chicken's and so on takes into consideration any downgrading that can be
expected in its use..
 
In fact research work on this point in Canada not done by or for the
manufacture showed that TM syrup fed bees in the fall and stored by the
bees does contain the effective levels of active ingredient the next
spring.
 
It is true that if exposed to light in open water it will degrade faster
then in a closed container protected from light and air. This would not
make outside feeders as desirable as inside feeders.
 
Any beekeepers who feeds bees large amounts of sugar syrup is missing a
very inexpensive prophylaxis treatment for bee disease if he does not
use TM in his syrup. Most beekeepers worry about AFB, but I can assure
you that EFB can destroy a beekeeper faster then anything most will ever
see in their bees if not controlled early in the brood rearing season,
especially so for package beekeepers and in early honey flow areas in
the south and west from sources as Citrus, Mesquite, and Sage. TM is
effective in preventive treatment of both EFB and AFB.
 
With AFB, TM works best if hives known to have disease are removed and
burned.  With a history of EFB all hives should be treated as early as
possible, like in the fall and early spring.
 
                              ttul the OLd Drone
 
 
 
(c) Permission is granted to freely copy this document
in any form, or to print for any use.
(w)Opinions are not necessarily facts. Use at own risk.
---
 ~ QMPro 1.53 ~ ... That the still murmur of the honey bee