>  Many of these products, under the right conditions, could wipe out
>your hives.


Right. When I kept bees in San Diego in the 80s, some yards were
plagued in summer by small black ants. I used to use Chlordane, till
it was outlawed. Then I switched to Diazinon powder, sprinkled on the
ground around the hives. Worked OK. Then, one summer the ants got way
out of hand in a yard of 80 hives. They were driving the bees out.
So, I dumped most of a 50 pound bag in circles around the hives,
about 8 inches away from the hives. The temperature that week went up
to 100 or so, and the stuff began to vaporize, which created toxic
fumes. The bees started pouring out of the hives, dying. I had to
move the whole yard. Fortunately I was able to borrow a truck with a
20 foot bed and a boom loader. The were still dying after I got them
moved. Chemicals and honey bees don't mix well.

--
Peter Borst <[log in to unmask]>