Does HopGuard treatment have any inconvenient like Tymol do?
Since more folks are using it for multiple applications (while the package directions advocate a single application 3x/year), I did an internet search for Dr. Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman of Carl Hayden Bee Research. She's been the lead on the Hopguard field trials. I'll be danged, she actually called me! I asked her about any damaging effects on the bees if Hopguard was applied 3x (1 treatment a week for 3 weeks). She said, no, they had not documented any adverse effects on the bees with this type of use.
I did not directly ask her whether they were actually testing for that, but I know that folks here at home using the product that way have not reported any problems, either.
Applying 3x is a huge time issue, especially for the commercial guys. She indicated a new Hopguard product being developed that could be applied one time but would last 3 weeks, covering a brood cycle. I asked her if this might be the "Hopguard II" I was reading about on the blogs? She paused and admitted, "yes", but did not elaborate beyond that.
I stored it in a tupper ware container. Haven't checked on it yet, but I did use it my first and second year without issue.
Thanks! I had mine is a zip lock baggie. Maybe I should have ziplocked it AND put it in tupperware! :)