Author Topic: Gardstar  (Read 3190 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline rober

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1174
  • Thanked: 71 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: arnold, mo
Gardstar
« on: April 20, 2018, 07:28:52 am »
Gardstar is sold by most bee supply houses to treat the soil for SHB larva. it's main ingredient is pemethrin. reading up on pemethrin it says it does not go into the soil beyond the thatch. so do beetle larva develop in the thatch? if not sounds like Goldstar is a waste of time & money.

Offline moebees

  • Regular Member
  • **
  • Posts: 38
  • Thanked: 5 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Illinois
Re: Gardstar
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2018, 10:43:48 am »
The larva burrow into the ground.  I don't know what Gardstar is or how it works but potentially I suppose the larva could come in contact with it in the thatch on their way to the ground and it could kill them.  You would need to know what is in it and how it works.  If you have chickens let them forage around the hives and take care of it.
Bee-keeping is like raising Martians - Isabella Rossellini

Offline Wandering Man

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1839
  • Thanked: 175 times
  • Gender: Male
    • Life Lessons from dogs, bees and others
  • Location: Victoria, Texas
Re: Gardstar
« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2018, 04:25:48 pm »
This from eXtension's info on SHB:

Quote
In 7-10 days, beetles complete their larval development and will exit the hive to pupate in the soil.  The majority of larvae remain within about 180 cm (6’) of the hive they exit, but can crawl much longer distances if needed.  Larvae will burrow up to 10 cm (4”) into the soil, where they remain 3-6 weeks to complete pupation.  Within 1-2 days of emerging from the soil, adult beetles will seek out a host bee colony, which they locate by odors (Fig. 3).

http://articles.extension.org/pages/60425/managing-small-hive-beetles

I tried to post this earlier, but got kicked off for repairs just after doing my cut and paste.
Never argue with drunks or crazy people

Offline Bakersdozen

  • Global Moderator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 4511
  • Thanked: 482 times
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: Olathe, Kansas
Re: Gardstar
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2018, 09:16:30 am »
Goldstar is sold by most bee supply houses to treat the soil for SHB larva. it's main ingredient is pemethrin. reading up on pemethrin it says it does not go into the soil beyond the thatch. so do beetle larva develop in the thatch? if not sounds like Goldstar is a waste of time & money.
rober, do you mean Gardstar?
If, so, I have some in my garage.  I haven't worked up the courage to use it though.

Offline rober

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1174
  • Thanked: 71 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: arnold, mo
Re: Gardstar
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2018, 09:48:21 am »
duh-uh, yes gardstar. it is a 40% permethrin mix.

Offline moebees

  • Regular Member
  • **
  • Posts: 38
  • Thanked: 5 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Illinois
Re: Gardstar
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2018, 11:34:19 am »
duh-uh, yes gardstar. it is a 40% permethrin mix.

Really? So you think it is a good idea to put permethrin under your beehives?  They are insects you know.
Bee-keeping is like raising Martians - Isabella Rossellini

Offline LazyBkpr

  • Gold Member
  • Posts: 6842
  • Thanked: 205 times
  • Gender: Male
  • www.outyard.net
    • The Outyard
  • Location: Richland Iowa
Re: Gardstar
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2018, 11:37:38 am »
Permethrin is used:

    as an insecticide
        in agriculture, to protect crops (lethal for bees)
        in agriculture, to kill livestock parasites
        for industrial/domestic insect control
        in the textile industry to prevent insect attack of woollen products
        in aviation, the WHO, IHR and ICAO require arriving aircraft be disinsected prior to departure, descent or deplaning in certain countries
        to treat head lice in humans
    as an insect repellent or insect screen
        in timber treatment
        as a personal protective measure (cloth impregnant, used primarily for US military uniforms and mosquito nets)
        in pet flea preventative collars or treatment
    often in combination with piperonyl butoxide to enhance its effectiveness.


   Wondering if it causes problems to the bees that hit the ground near the hives?
Drinking RUM before noon makes you a PIRATE not an alcoholic!

*Sponsor*

Offline Bakersdozen

  • Global Moderator
  • Gold Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 4511
  • Thanked: 482 times
  • Gender: Female
  • Location: Olathe, Kansas
Re: Gardstar
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2018, 11:39:31 am »
rober, I took the liberty of changing the original title of your post on this thread so there won't be any confusion.  Hopefully no confusion.

Offline moebees

  • Regular Member
  • **
  • Posts: 38
  • Thanked: 5 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Illinois
Re: Gardstar
« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2018, 04:32:41 pm »


   Wondering if it causes problems to the bees that hit the ground near the hives?

Of course.  And they will drag it into the hive. Not to mention drift in the application. Any breeze at all and you will have it on the outside of the hive and possibly in the entrance.
Bee-keeping is like raising Martians - Isabella Rossellini

Offline rober

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1174
  • Thanked: 71 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: arnold, mo
Re: Gardstar
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2018, 09:17:47 pm »
somebody gave me some but I haven't used it yet. I've thought about using it no closer than 4' to the hives. I use sawdust for mulch around the hives & cannot use it there because he bees are on the sawdust all the time. I think they use the resins to make propolis. the hives at my house are sitting on pavers. the instructions say to soak the soil at night & use a sprinkler can instead of a sprayer. we had some periods of deep freezing this winter & i'm fewer seeing beetles than I did last year. almost every major bee supplier sells it for beetle larva control.

Offline CBT

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1047
  • Thanked: 80 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Age gets better with wine
  • Location: Sandhills of North Carolina
Re: Gardstar
« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2018, 09:25:17 pm »
I believe you could use BT the same way without fear of hurting the bees as you spray the comb to prevent wax moth damage you could soak the ground with it. It is made to kill a worm. IMHO

Offline rober

  • Gold Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1174
  • Thanked: 71 times
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: arnold, mo
Re: Gardstar
« Reply #11 on: April 21, 2018, 09:31:04 pm »
I've had  stored BT treated comb destroyed by hive beetle larva. I think they considered it to be a seasoning. there are different types of BT for specific types of worms.