Sevin 5% dust treatments

[jeff]

When and how often do you treat for mites with Sevin 5% dust?

I treated with 1/2 oz in each compartment in March before the PM's arrived as the white pine needles were added.

Was wondering if i should retreat as i do the nest checks.

Thanks

[Dave Duit]

Hi Jeff,
You will get several opiniions on the topic. I do as you, adding a little to each compartment just prior to their migration arrival and again just before egg laying. Some people wait until the babies have hatched and are about a week old. If the weather is somewhat normal the sevin is good. If you get lots of rain and humidity, it is a breeding ground for mites, so apply according to the situation.

[Whippy]

I treat when I do my pre-nesting before they arrive. After that, as I do nest checks every week and I'm outside every day, I will treat as necessary from there on out. I've found that if I get them treated when they arrive, I don't need to re-treat during the season. I've had one gourd get infested after hatching last year but one little treatment took care of that real quick. All others were fine all season. I also watch the adults as they are perched. If they are scratching and preening like crazy I'll take note of their gourd and re-treat. I do have a lot of SY birds that sit around and scratch like crazy but they don't live here but if they do move in, they'll be treated.

This my experience here in Plano however, your area and conditions may differ from mine. Just keep an eye on things and you'll be fine.

If you do have to treat with babies in the nest, just take a tea spoon and dump a little on the inside wall of the gourd and let slide under the nesting material. If it's a T-14 or Trio house with trays, put some under the trays of the Trio and and little bit under the tray of the T-14 as well as a small amount on the side wall of the nest tray but under the nest material if you want faster results.

That's how I do it. Others may differ and I look forward to learning about that.

Good luck to you.

Coolwhips

[flyin-lowe]

Not able to picture in my head how much 1/2 an ounce of Seven is but it seem like quite a bit. I have always waited until the martin eggs are due to hatch. I then lift the front edge of the nest and put a small amount under there. This has always worked for me and kept from having any mite problems. I like doing it this way because I don't have to worry about any hatchlings ingesting the dust.

[Conrad Baker]

Not able to picture in my head how much 1/2 an ounce of Seven is but it seem like quite a bit. I have always waited until the martin eggs are due to hatch. I then lift the front edge of the nest and put a small amount under there. This has always worked for me and kept from having any mite problems. I like doing it this way because I don't have to worry about any hatchlings ingesting the dust.

I'm wondering if he meant 1/2 a teaspoon?

[jeff]

yes, sorry I meant to write one half teaspoon

[daveh]

I add 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. seven when I see eggs. It usually goes in the nest walls, not on the eggs. Seems to deter the mites all seasonbut occasionally will have to add some on certain nests. Sometimes I will add liquid seven to the outside of gourds, especially around and under the lid. Usually the next day, the mites are gone.

Dave

[G Saner]

As stated above, you will get different opinions on this. Here is what I do for my SuperGourds.

I use a manual pump powder mister. The action is similar to a hand bicycle pump and I think used mainly for roses. The mister sprays a small amount into a tiny cloud. After the eggs have been laid, I cover them with leaves and spray around the observation port opening. Mites really like the grooves of the screw on cap. Some goes into the gourd and dusts the walls. The amount is very small.

This has worked well for me and like others, I retreat if necessary (which is rare). If I do this before the eggs have hatched, It seems to last until the babies fledge.

[Spiderman]

A quarter to half a teaspoon when prenesting and the same when the eggs are laid should preempt any mites that you have.

The adults will have mites when they arrive. There seems to be a 2nd infestation when the chicks are a week or so old.

Just tap the pine straw with a spoon and the dust will sink & disappear.