Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Beekeeping 101 => Topic started by: Blair Sampson on October 14, 2016, 10:27:39 am

Title: Powdered Sugar dusting
Post by: Blair Sampson on October 14, 2016, 10:27:39 am

Planning on inspecting the hives for the last time this weekend prior to wrapping them for winter later this month or early November. Is there any harm in doing a late fall powdered sugar dusting in an attempt to knock off more mites prior to closing off the hives?

Title: Re: Powdered Sugar dusting
Post by: Perry on October 14, 2016, 11:21:11 am

No harm I suppose, but I'm not a big believer in sugar dusting.

Title: Re: Powdered Sugar dusting
Post by: Jacobs on October 14, 2016, 11:59:24 am

Here is a link to Jennifer Berry's study of the subject.  The bottom line is that the sugar will knock some mites off the comb, but that it is not a strong enough method to keep mites from building up to devastating levels.

http://www.ent.uga.edu/bees/documents/berryjanuary2013.pdf

Title: Re: Powdered Sugar dusting
Post by: CBT on October 14, 2016, 05:09:02 pm

If your concerned about mites do a sugar roll or alcohol test. Good practice and real results. Good luck. :)