Blane White wrote:
In tests done a few years ago in Florida SHB pupated and
developed successfully in pure diatomacetous earth.  They
are amazingly tough beetles and the DE didn't seem to
bother them at all

Reply:
Yes, this was brought up on OrganicBeekeepers during
discussion, along with using elevated stands, special
buildings built for bees, lime for adding to the
soil,cement slabs, soapy water for drenching the soil,
special stands for elevation, etc.

In discussing, I think many where thinking that if we get
the bees happy and healthy using small cell foundation,
then if the secondary diseases and parasitic mites cannot
hurt them, then the beetles will have a hard time also. So
just let them be and work with survivorship in bees and
don't unnecessarily change normal beekeeping routines. But
it is hard for many beekeepers not to follow trends.

Those that want to, can by all means do what they can
afford to for more control, but it was brought up that IPM
is just another interum route using soft treatments like
soapy water,that maybe hinders reaching long-term full
control without any help, that I think we all really
want.Let the bees either live or die, in the end they will
anyway. So just do it!

Sincerely,

Dee A. Lusby

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