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Entomology & Plant Pathology
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS 39762-9775

TEL: (662) 325-2085
FAX: (662) 325-8837

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Beekeeping Tips

  1. Coumaphos Section 18 Approved in Mississippi

    Mississippi received approval for the use of Coumaphos (Bayer Bee Strips) for the control of varroa mites and small hive beetles on January 25, 1999.

    The Environmental Protection Agency hereby grants a specific exemption under the provisions of Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act as amended to the Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce for the use of coumaphos impregnated in plastic strips to be hung in beehives to control varroa mite (Varroa jacobsoni) and small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) in beehives. This specific exemption is subject to the following conditions and restrictions:

    1. The Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce is responsible for ensuring that all provisions of this specific exemption are met. It is also responsible for providing information in accordance with 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 166.32. This information must be submitted to EPA Headquarters and EPA Region IV.
    2. The product, Bayer Bee Strip, containing 10% coumaphos (currently there is no EPA Registration Number) may be used. All applicable directions, restriction, and precautions on the proposed product label submitted by the state must be followed.
    3. A maximum of 60,000 Bayer Bee Strips may be used.
    4. Treatments must be applied at a time when bees are not producing a surplus honey crop. Gloves must be worn when handling strips.
    5. To control varroa mite, use one strip for each five combs of bees in each brood chamber Langstroth deep frames or equivalent in other sizes). Hang the strips within two combs of the edge of the bee cluster. If two deep supers are used for the brood nest, hand Bayer Bee Strips in alternate corners of the cluster, in the top and bottom super. Remove honey supers before application of Bayer Bee Strips and do not replace until the end of the control period. Treat all infested colonies replace until the end of the control period. Treat all infested colonies within the yard. The treatment is most effective when brood rearing is lowest. Effective control may be achieved by treating hives in the spring before the first honey flow and in the fall after the last honey flow. Leave the strips in the hive for at least 42 days (six weeks). Do not leave strips in the hive for more than 45 days. Do not treat more than twice a year for varroa mites.
    6. To control the small hive beetle, prepare a piece of corrugated cardboard box approximately 4x4 inches by removing one side. Remove one Bayer Bee Strip. Cut strip in half cross ways and staple the two pieces to the corrugated side of the cardboard box. Place as near to the center of the broom board as possible with the strips down.   Leave at least three days. Remove after seven days. Do not treat more than four times per year for the small hive beetle.
    7. Based on the residue data submitted with the state of Florida's application for the same use (99-FL-04), the Agency has concluded that there will be no reasonable expectation of finite residues of coumaphos in commercial honey and processed beeswax used to food or cosmetics (taken from the honey supers) provided that the Bayer Bee Strips are used in brood chambers when honey supers are not present (in accordance with the proposed Section 18 label). Therefore, the Section 18 use of coumaphos impregnated in plastic strips to be hung in beehives has been classified as a non-food use and no tolerances will be established in either honey or beeswax.
    8. The EPA Headquarters and Regional office shall be immediately informed of any adverse effects or misuse resulting from the use of this pesticide in connection with this exemption.
    9. The use of coumaphos impregnated in plastic strips to be hung in beehives to control varroa mite and small hive beetle in beehives is not expected to have any adverse effects on the environment since it is considered an indoor use.
    10. In accordance with 40 CFR 166.32, a report summarizing the results of this program must be submitted to EPA Headquarters and the EPA Regional IV offices by July, 25 2000.
    11. This specific exemption expires on January 25, 2000.
    12. The future correspondence in connection with this exemption should refer to file symbol 99-MS-03.

    The Section 18 registration of Bayer Bee Strip offers a different control option for varroa mites, which will help delay the development of resistance to fluvalinate. The only distributor of Bayer Bee Strips is Mann Lake Bee Supply. The strips are available only in packages of 10. (Mann Lake Ltd., 501 S. 1st St., Hackensack, MN, 1-800-233-6663, FAX 218-675-6156, E-Mail beekeepr@mannlakeltd.com)