"Cuthbertson et al (2013) mention the widespread use of
 Apithor (with fipronil) inside hives in Australia and
 elsewhere to control small hive beetle.  I suspect that
 French beekeepers may soon be making an about-turn on
 fipronil."
 
People put all manner of toxic substances in hives to kill the beetles;
boric acid is another common one. It isn’t that it’s not toxic to bees,
just that they figure it’s in a trap where the bees cannot access it.


I have tried this a bit this fall in several hives.  So far it’s a failure.
The (combat) is unattractive to the beetles so their contact is limited.
Without ingestion it seems to be largely ineffective.(just observation)
Opening a trap will usually yield live wandering beetles. With little to no
reduction in overall levels. (very difficult to quantify so far)

On the other hand a trap (beetle barns) with checkmite are very effective. A
trap opened with checkmite will normally have many dead beetles.

Charles

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