Applying GardStar - Beekeeping Supplies Protective Clothing Beekeeping Equipment

Using Permethrin to Control the
Small Hive Beetle (SHB)

Permethrin solutions (such as Y-Tex GardStar 40% EC Livestock and Premise Insecticide, etc.) are used to control Small Hive Beetle (SHB) infestations by breaking the beetle's brood cycle. The SHB pupates in the soil in front of the hive, and permethrin, when used as a soil drench, kills the larvae and pupae in the soil. Permethrin is both for treatment of existing infestations and for pretreatment before hive placement in an apiary with SHB presence. Permethrin can be purchased at most livestock and farm-supply stores and from certain beekeeping suppliers.

Even though permethrin is highly toxic to honeybees, it is applied to the soil directly in front of the hive. If applied correctly, there is little chance that it will come in contact with the colony. BeeCARE recommends the following procedure when applying permethrin. The procedure documented here is in strict accordance with the manufacturer's product label information, and is augmented by additional information obtained directly from the manufacturer. Refer to the labeling provided with the permethrin packaging for further information.

Step 1 - Assemble your materials
You will need the following materials to administer Permethrin:

Sprinkler Can
You must use a sprinkler-type watering can when treating an apiary containing hives, even if the hives do not yet have honeybees. If you are preparing the soil in an apiary with no hives as a pretreatment for placing the hives, you may use a sprayer. But permethrin is very deadly to honeybees, so you must be extremely careful to not allow any of the insecticide to come into contact with the bees, either directly or indirectly via hive surfaces or food and water sources. Spray and spray drift will kill your bees if you use a sprayer in an apiary with hives. A sprinkler can will safely administer permethrin without allowing the toxic poison to come into contact with your bees or any surface where they will land.
Goggles
Permethrin is corrosive and can cause irreversible eye damage. To avoid getting permethrin in your eyes while preparing the drench solution, always wear goggles, a face shield or safety glasses.

Step 2 - Mix the soil drench solution
Warning: Do not get permethrin in your eyes, on your skin, or on clothing. Do not breath the fumes from the undiluted insecticide or the drench solution. Even standing over a watering can containing the drench solution can send fumes up your clothing and irritate your skin. See the labeling provided with the product for further precautionary and hazard information.

Note: The following instructions assume you have a 40% permethrin solution. If the permethrin you purchased is either more or less concentrated, you must change the ratios mentioned here to achieve the proper concentration in your water solution.

Dilute the permethrin by mixing 5ml of 40% permethrin for each gallon of water. You should prepare one (1) gallon of solution for each six (6) hives to be treated. For example, if you are going to treat two hives, you need to use 1/3 gallon of water (1 1/3 quarts, or 1.4 liters) with approximately 1.7ml of permethrin. The 4 fl oz. (118ml) bottle of permethrin has a measuring cup built into the top of the bottle to make measurement easier. One 4 oz. bottle of permethrin can treat 142 hives. Permethrin is also available in an economical quart size, which will treat 1136 hives. The quart size lacks the measuring chamber on the bottle.

Pour the Permethrin into your watering can or sprayer first, then add the water. The agitation of pouring in the water will thoroughly mix the permethrin into solution. Mix the solution outside the house, not in the kitchen sink or any place where food is prepared. After your soil drench solution is mixed, it will have a thin, milky-white appearance, as shown here. Permethrin does not require extra agitation after the initial mixing.

Step 3 - Prepare the apiary
Ensure the apiary is free of weeds, especially the areas in front of the hives to be treated. The efficacy of permethrin is greatly enhanced as it comes into direct contact with the soil; weeds or other foliage can interfere with the soil application.

Also ensure that there are no flowering plants anywhere in the area to be treated, so that honeybees will not come into contact with the permethrin you apply to the soil.

If you have a watering can or other food source near the hives, remove it from the apiary before you begin treatment.

Step 4 - Apply permethrin in front of each hive to be treated
Ideally, you should wait until late in the evening before you treat the hive soil with permethrin. This allows the field bees to return to the hive and the colony to become inactive before you apply the insecticide. If the colony is inactive, there will be less chance for the bees to come into contact with the poison.

Thoroughly drench the ground in front of each hive to be treated. Wet an area 18 to 24 inches wide in front of the hive. Apply the soil drench solution in a semicircular pattern to ensure that any SHB larvae or pupae will come into contact with the treated area.

Reapplication
USDA testing of permethrin has shown it to remain effective for up to 90 days from a single treatment under ideal conditions. However, the actual residual activity depends on soil ph, soil type, and moisture content. You should usually expect a minimum of 30 to 45 days of efficacy from a single treatment. Permethrin bonds to the soil if applied correctly (see above), and once bonded to the soil, it is generally not soluble in rainwater.

Since proper treatment of SHB will break the brood cycle and kill the adult beetles, the treatment period per hive should actually be a maximum of 45 days, and in most cases less. So, you should not need to reapply permethrin for an SHB infestation if you apply it to the soil at the same time you treat the hive with CheckMite+ Strips.

Using CheckMite+ to Control the Small Hive Beetle (SHB)
Periodic Apiary Inspections
Opening and Inspecting the Hive
Small Hive Beetle (SHB)