ground drench for SHB?

[rober]

has anyone tried a ground drench with goldstar for SHB? I know the larva can travel a ways but doubt they go any farther than they have too. it's recommended to use a watering can around hives. i'm always reluctant to use poisons but beetle populations are high enough this year than i'm seriously concerned about the health of my hives.

[lazy shooter]

I feel so blessed.  I haven't seen a SHB is at least two years.  If I never see another one, it will be too soon.  I have only seen bees on the ground near the hive entrance a few times.  During those times they were "balling" a pest of some kind.  Even then they were in front of the hive.  I would think one could carefully spray one of those "bug away" type things under the hives and do away with the larva as they hatched.

lazy

[brooksbeefarm]

At our last club meeting some of the members said they are putting stock salt under there hives to kill the SHB larva when they fall through the screen bottom board to the ground? haven't heard if it works or not? Jack

[rober]

there was a guy from Kirkwood mo at the H.A.S. conference at U.M.S.L. awhile back who was using rock salt for beetle control. the tests were in the early stages & were inconclusive. I have an 8' x 14' pad of paver bricks on a bed of sand with 2 12' hive racks on it. I use a rock salt solution on the pad for weed control at this pad & have seen no difference in beetle numbers compared to other hive locations as of yet. this is the 2nd year I've used salt under these hives.

[jaimes]

Diatomaceous earth is the only ground product that shows some results for me. Unfortunately it has to be reapplied periodically to be effective. This is the first year I've seen shb fly up and land on the bottom boards! The bees hate em and I don't care for em much either! GL
j


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[Lburou]

Personally, it wouldn't bother me to try that Rober.  I've used ordinary broad spectrum granular insecticide under my hives.  Thing is, the larvae can crawl quite a ways in all directions. 

[brooksbeefarm]

I would think stock salt under the hive would kill the larva (dry it up) on contact? Jack

[mgstei1]

Salt

[Lburou]

How often would you reapply the salt in a rainy location?

[mgstei1]

When i cant see it i add more. About 24" around the hive. If you use SBBs and they open to the world you are helping the beetles and moths by the hive debris that falls through to the ground. Plus, the beetles can enter the hive if they can also fall outa the hive. And sometimes i believe the mites do the same.

[rober]

I'm always leery of using pesticides & herbicides. so I've decided to use a heavy dose of rock salt under the hives & in the areas immediately adjacent to them & use the pesticide in the areas further from the hives. several beekeeping supply houses sell goldstar which is 36% permethrin & it sells for over $100.00 for 4 oz. I found a 40% permethrin mix on ebay for $75.00 for 1.25 gallons!!! the inert ingredients are pretty much the same. I wonder why there is such a disparity in price. the same company has quarts for $25.00. these are all concentrates & will make gallons.