cundald
House Bee
 Offline
Gender: 
Posts: 84
Location: Whitsett, North Carolina
|
 |
« on: March 05, 2009, 05:39:13 PM » |
|
I have checked the web and the forums but can not find the answer to this question.
Is boric acid dangerous to honeybees?
I am not looking for opinions but documented conformation.
cundald
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
The first step in the acquisition of wisdom is silence, the second listening, the third memory, the fourth practice, the fifth teaching others.
Solomon Ibn Gabriol
|
|
|
|
|
|
Understudy
|
|
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2009, 08:33:48 PM » |
|
Yes, Boric Acid acts as an insecticide to most insects. From Wikipedia: Boric acid was first registered in the US as an insecticide in 1948 for control of cockroaches, termites, fire ants, fleas, silverfish, and many other insects.[6] It acts as a stomach poison affecting the insects' metabolism, and the dry powder is abrasive to the insects' exoskeleton.Bees have exoskeletons. From the EPA: Boric acid was first registered as a pesticide in the U.S. in 1948. Currently, 189 pesticide products are registered which contain boric acid or one of its sodium salts as an active ingredient. I doubt you will find a specific study on honeybees and boric acid as there probably has not been one done. What has been shown is Boric Acid is effective against insects with exoskeletons. Honeybees fall into that category. So do roaches and small hive beetles. So should sprinkle your hive with Boric Acid? No. You can create traps for SHB in your hives with Boric Acid as long as the bees can't get into the trap but he SHB can. You also don't want the Boric Acid to spill out of the traps. I hope this helps. Sincerely, Brendhan |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
The status is not quo. The world is a mess and I just need to rule it. Dr. Horrible
|
|
|
Highlandsfreedom
House Bee
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 451
Location: Mesquite, TX
|
 |
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2009, 08:32:29 PM » |
|
wow we use that stuff in the house........ but no more now!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
To bee or not to bee that is the question I wake up to answer that every morning...
|
|
|
|
Understudy
|
|
« Reply #4 on: May 09, 2009, 08:35:55 PM » |
|
wow we use that stuff in the house........ but no more now!
There is a difference between using it in your house and in a hive. Boric Acid against roaches is the best product out there. On humans who don't have exoskeletons, it is harmless. So in the house is great. In the hive not so much. Sincerely, Brendhan |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
The status is not quo. The world is a mess and I just need to rule it. Dr. Horrible
|
|
|
Highlandsfreedom
House Bee
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 451
Location: Mesquite, TX
|
|
« Reply #5 on: May 09, 2009, 08:39:23 PM » |
|
we graywater and I don't want my girls playing in that stuff to be on the safe side....... my cats take care of the inside house
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
To bee or not to bee that is the question I wake up to answer that every morning...
|
|
|
|
JP
|
|
« Reply #6 on: May 09, 2009, 08:50:55 PM » |
|
Boric acid works by ingestion. A human would have to literally eat pounds of the stuff to be affected. As for as pesticides go, boric acid is one of the safest there is to use in your household.
Don, aka Fatbeeman uses it in conjunction with Crisco in corrugated cardboard and places it in the hive for shb control. It is mixed with Crisco to make a paste that they eat.
BTW boric acid is an ingredient in eye drops.
...JP
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
annette
|
|
« Reply #7 on: May 09, 2009, 11:28:00 PM » |
|
I use it in my cosmetics. It acts as an emulsifier binding the oils and liquids together. It is all natural stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
SlickMick
Field Bee
Offline
Posts: 590
Location: Brisbane, Australia
|
|
« Reply #8 on: May 11, 2009, 11:01:20 PM » |
|
I use it in my cosmetics. It acts as an emulsifier binding the oils and liquids together. It is all natural stuff.
Now we know why you have such a glowing smile  Mick |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
On the outer Barcoo where the churches are few, And men of religion are scanty, On a road never cross'd 'cept by folk that are lost, One Michael Magee had a shanty. Now this Mike was the dad of a ten-year-old lad, Plump, healthy, and stoutly conditioned; He was strong as the best, but poor Mike had no rest For the youngster had never been christened, A BUSH CHRISTENING - A.B. "Banjo" Paterson http://www.middlemiss.org/lit/authors/patersonab/poetry/christen.html |
|
|
Bee Happy
Super Bee
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1641
Location: Between Panama city, Florida and Dothan Al.
that's me - setting a phoenix free
|
|
« Reply #9 on: May 11, 2009, 11:51:05 PM » |
|
I notice that the 'get rid of stuff' guy makes no mention of calling a beekeeper...oh well.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
be happy and make others happy.
|
|
|
Highlandsfreedom
House Bee
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 451
Location: Mesquite, TX
|
|
« Reply #10 on: May 12, 2009, 12:02:52 AM » |
|
I notice that the 'get rid of stuff' guy makes no mention of calling a beekeeper...oh well.
Which guy? |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
To bee or not to bee that is the question I wake up to answer that every morning...
|
|
|
Bee Happy
Super Bee
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1641
Location: Between Panama city, Florida and Dothan Al.
that's me - setting a phoenix free
|
|
« Reply #11 on: May 12, 2009, 05:34:58 AM » |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
be happy and make others happy.
|
|
|
|
annette
|
|
« Reply #12 on: May 12, 2009, 02:45:01 PM » |
|
I use it in my cosmetics. It acts as an emulsifier binding the oils and liquids together. It is all natural stuff.
Now we know why you have such a glowing smile Mick That is very sweet of you Mick. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
sc-bee
|
|
« Reply #13 on: May 12, 2009, 11:26:47 PM » |
|
>I notice that the 'get rid of stuff' guy makes no mention of calling a beekeeper...oh well.
>Stop! Before you do anything about removing bees or removing bee nests, you should first attempt to contact a local beekeeper. There is a good chance they will get rid of your bees for free. Why? Because in the last few years wild honey bee populations have dwindled down to almost 3% of their estimated original population. Before resorting to bee killer, steps should be taken to remove the bees peacefully, without chemicals. Ask around your local co-op; someone is bound to know a beekeeper.
On the get rid of stuff guy page above!!!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
John 3:16
|
|
|
Highlandsfreedom
House Bee
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 451
Location: Mesquite, TX
|
|
« Reply #14 on: May 13, 2009, 01:04:21 PM » |
|
OOOOOOOOHH that guy got it. you are right. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
To bee or not to bee that is the question I wake up to answer that every morning...
|
|
|
Bee Happy
Super Bee
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1641
Location: Between Panama city, Florida and Dothan Al.
that's me - setting a phoenix free
|
|
« Reply #15 on: May 13, 2009, 01:05:35 PM » |
|
>I notice that the 'get rid of stuff' guy makes no mention of calling a beekeeper...oh well.
>Stop! Before you do anything about removing bees or removing bee nests, you should first attempt to contact a local beekeeper. There is a good chance they will get rid of your bees for free. Why? Because in the last few years wild honey bee populations have dwindled down to almost 3% of their estimated original population. Before resorting to bee killer, steps should be taken to remove the bees peacefully, without chemicals. Ask around your local co-op; someone is bound to know a beekeeper.
On the get rid of stuff guy page above!!!
^^^ this is what i get for skimming and not reading when I see red over a raid can for honeybees. egg is not an unfamiliar feeling on my face - I hear it's good for the complexion though. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
be happy and make others happy.
|
|
|
|
sc-bee
|
|
« Reply #16 on: May 13, 2009, 02:00:23 PM » |
|
>egg is not an unfamiliar feeling on my face Been there done that more times than I can count  ! |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
John 3:16
|
|
|
matt
New Bee
Offline
Posts: 1
Location: Hopelessly Lost
|
|
« Reply #17 on: September 27, 2011, 11:43:48 AM » |
|
Boric acid is a main ingredient in silly putty.
Boric acid is "relataively non-toxic" to bees according to a gov pub, search "Reregistration eligibility decision Boric acid and its salts.
Boric acid and borax are not the same chemical.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
sawdstmakr
Queen Bee
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1085
Location: Jacksonville FL
|
|
« Reply #18 on: September 27, 2011, 12:13:38 PM » |
|
Boric acid is also the best way to control flees in carpets. It is called Flee Stop and all is is boric acid in a very fine powder form. Works great, better than having the house sprayed once a month. Put it in your carpets, use a broom to get it deep down where the flees lay there eggs and it lasts for several years. Just remember to redo it when you replace a rug.
Jim
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Understudy
|
|
« Reply #19 on: September 27, 2011, 05:06:23 PM » |
|
I have checked the web and the forums but can not find the answer to this question.
Is boric acid dangerous to honeybees?
I am not looking for opinions but documented conformation.
cundald
Okay, the original poster asked for documentation. Here you go. http://www.culturaapicola.com.ar/apuntes/sanidad/40_manejo_destruccion_colmenas.pdfIn this study a concentration of 5% boric acid in a honey bait station was found to be toxic to bees. Since boric acid was not the main item in this study it does not get the full attention but it does show that boric acid is toxic to bees. In this case it deals with the ingestion of boric acid and not the application for external exposure. So lets make this clear. Boric Acid kills bees. Sincerely, Brendhan |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
The status is not quo. The world is a mess and I just need to rule it. Dr. Horrible
|
|
|
|
