Bees. Nature's pollinators, honey makers, and wing shakers. They're one of
But they are constantly under attack by pests, including the Varroa destructor mite: a parasite that infests a honey bee colony and is believed to contribute to colony collapse disorder. There are ways of handling these pests, though they've mostly been synthetic-chemical-based, through physical
Now there's another tool in the fight against pests: a hop-based pesticide. Yes, the same ingredient that gives beer its signature bitterness is now being used as a pesticide to help save bees.
Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency released a final ruling on the use of hop derived pesticides in fighting the pernicious mites.
This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of the biochemical pesticide potassium salts of hops beta acids in or on honey and honeycomb for the control of Varroa mites in accordance with label directions and good agricultural practices. Interregional Research Project Number 4, on behalf of Beta Tec Hop Products, Inc., submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of potassium salts of hops beta acids in or on honey and honeycomb.
If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters.
SHOW ME HOW
You have successfully signed up for your selected newsletter(s) - please keep an eye on your mailbox, we're movin' in!
Some history: On September 5, 2014, BetaTec Hop Products Inc. asked for a pesticide tolerance petition. It took a year for the EPA to determine that the chemical was safe "through food, drinking water, and through other exposures" in humans.
For the nerds out there, what the study found was this: "K-HBAs are derived from the resin components of the cones of female hop plants Humulus lupulus. The three major components of K-HBAs are Lupulone (30-55% with an isopropyl side chain), Colupulone (20-55% with an isobutyl side chain), and Adlupulone (5-10% with a
Now, apiarists have another "natural" way to help combat these stupid
Also, where can I get this