Mites!!!

[Conrad Baker]

Yesterday I lowered my gourds and found one which had lots of mites. That gourd has four healthy looking, approximately two week old, babies. I immediately looked at this forum for answers on how to eliminate the problem. Thanks to all who posted advice. I found a local store which has Sevin Dust in stock and will drive there today to purchase it. However, I could not find a puffer duster anywhere in the area. As others have noted, there are many sites on the internet where they can be ordered. I found one site in particular which had a puffer with a 5" tube and another with a 14" tube. The longer tube would seem to make more sense, especially if I want to add the dust to an existing nest without actually changing the nest, as I intend to do with this one. Am I being foolish in that assumption? In other words, will the shorter tube work just as well? (I'm not worried about the extra $10 for the longer tube.) Info regarding both puffer dusters is attached. Thanks for your opinion.
https://www.domyown.com/bellow-hand-duster-p-106.html
https://www.domyown.com/long-shot-puffe ... 11745.html

cphanson, I use the exact one in the picture (short tube), and it works perfectly. Just put a couple of small ball bearings (size of 00 buckshot) in the container to keep the powder from clumping. Shake it every two or three puffs, and you will be surprised how great it works. I am thinking the longer tube might work better for reaching into gourds, but I can't say for sure-I have no experience with gourds. The short one is perfect for my S&K houses.

[cphanson]

This morning I lowered the gourds, used a wooden paint stir stick to lift the portion of the nest next to the front entrance of each of the occupied gourds, and put about 1/2 teaspoon of 5% Sevin dust in both. Except for the parents screaming at me from the adjacent power lines, the process went smoothly and quickly. The parents returned to the gourds shortly thereafter and have been feverishly feeding their babies all day, with no apparent concern about the Sevin now in their nests. Although I assume the mite problem has been solved, I'll check in a couple of days to make certain. Thanks to Spiderman and Daveh for describing their simple method, and to Conrad Baker for his advice regarding the puffer duster he uses. Although it may not be necessary, I may still buy one of the two described puffer dusters, just to try it out to see if it makes the job is even easier. This forum is incredibly helpful. Thanks.

[Conrad Baker]

What I like about the puffer is that you can insert the tube into the cavity along one of the corners and reach to the back of the compartment without disturbing the nest, then do the other side of the nest catching the entire back of the compartment. Then use your teaspoon method for the front edge of the nest (or at the entrance). Both systems work, as long as you use them. An ounce of prevention is...... well, you know the thing .....

[Thomabear]

An ounce of prevention is...... well, you know the thing .....

[Martintown33]

Ha! That sounds familiar, Conrad…” well, you know, the thing”:..