Welcome, Guest

Author Topic: A Better Way to Dust for Mites with Powdered Sugar?  (Read 3510 times)

Offline PeskySquirrel

  • New Bee
  • *
  • Posts: 26
  • Gender: Male
A Better Way to Dust for Mites with Powdered Sugar?
« on: February 11, 2009, 06:53:28 pm »
Anyone else as intrigued as I am about by this new product from Dadant?

https://www.dadant.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1066

Just another way to spend more money? Or a truly better way to apply Powdered Sugar? Can't wait to hear a few reviews.

Online Kathyp

  • Global Moderator
  • Universal Bee
  • *******
  • Posts: 20361
  • Gender: Female
Re: a Better Way to Dust for Mites with Powdered Sugar?
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2009, 07:20:06 pm »
an old window screen and a brush work great. 
Someone really ought to tell them that the world of Ayn Rand?s novel was not meant to be aspirational.

Offline Bee-Bop

  • Field Bee
  • ***
  • Posts: 689
  • Gender: Male
Re: a Better Way to Dust for Mites with Powdered Sugar?
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2009, 10:28:26 am »
This is a old hat item in Europe, I believe there have been several articles published on the use of them.
Like most ever thing, some Good & some Bad reports !

Bee-Bop
" If Your not part of the genetic solution of breeding mite-free bees, then You're part of the problem "

Offline mlewis48

  • House Bee
  • **
  • Posts: 111
  • Gender: Male
Re: a Better Way to Dust for Mites with Powdered Sugar?
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2009, 12:10:08 pm »
 I use an old flour sifter that I found at the flea market. It does well .
" Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are gonna get"

Offline Brian D. Bray

  • Heavenly Beekeeper
  • Heavenly Beekeeper
  • Galactic Bee
  • ********
  • Posts: 7369
  • Gender: Male
  • I really look like this, just ask Cindi.
    • http://spaces.msn.com/thecoonsden
Re: a Better Way to Dust for Mites with Powdered Sugar?
« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2009, 12:32:02 am »
Randy Oliver wrote about it and mentioned that Dadant would be carrying the item.  I called immediately on reading that only to find out that the order had been placed with the European manufacturer but had not arrived as the time I called and no decision about pricing had been made. 
I think I'll order one, now that they're in and in the online catalog.  I like the idea of being able to blow powder up between the frames and well as down between them.  It also might make it so I don't have to stoop so much working the hives, that's a back killer for me on the days I can work the hives without the wheelchair.
Life is a school.  What have you learned?   :brian:      The greatest danger to our society is apathy, vote in every election!

Offline annette

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 5353
  • Gender: Female
Re: a Better Way to Dust for Mites with Powdered Sugar?
« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2009, 12:40:20 am »
I don't understand how it works. Sounds sort of strange having the sugar blow up, when you want the mites to go down. ????

Offline Brian D. Bray

  • Heavenly Beekeeper
  • Heavenly Beekeeper
  • Galactic Bee
  • ********
  • Posts: 7369
  • Gender: Male
  • I really look like this, just ask Cindi.
    • http://spaces.msn.com/thecoonsden
Re: a Better Way to Dust for Mites with Powdered Sugar?
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2009, 12:03:18 am »
I don't understand how it works. Sounds sort of strange having the sugar blow up, when you want the mites to go down. ????

Imagine filling your smoker with powdered sugar, so that when you work the billows a cloud of sugar comes out the spout.  Then imagine puffing the sugar into the hive through the entrance.  Now put an extention on the spout so that the powdered sugar can be puffed up onto the frames from below.  Get it now?
Life is a school.  What have you learned?   :brian:      The greatest danger to our society is apathy, vote in every election!

Offline annette

  • Galactic Bee
  • ******
  • Posts: 5353
  • Gender: Female
Re: a Better Way to Dust for Mites with Powdered Sugar?
« Reply #7 on: February 15, 2009, 01:43:02 pm »
Got it

 

anything