Hi Zach & all

> I am thinking of using tabacco stems...

I was one of those in UK that used tobacco for mite detection
(prior to the mite arriving) we did not use stalks, but the
normal pipe tobacco product... I used St. Bruno, which was placed
on top of burning embers in the smoker

We used to stuff the entrance with crumpled newspaper at
nightfall, pump several strong blasts of pipe tobacco smoke in
one end of the entrance and then close up for an hour.

Apart from the possible honey contamination (not noticed by me)
the main risk was that the test may not have been as effective at
the lowest levels of mite infestation as it was thought to be,
and this may have contributed to the mite not being found for
some time, when it was actually present.

 Best Regards & 73s, Dave Cushman... G8MZY
Beekeeping & Bee Breeding Website
Email: [log in to unmask] or  [log in to unmask]
http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman &
http://www.dave-cushman.net

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and  other info ---
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::