SuperBoost – A Revolution in Pollination

Pherotech’s new, patent pending, product – SuperBoost was developed in the US between Texas A&M University and Pherotech. The manufacturer claims that it will dramatically improve the health and vigour of bees as well as improve crop pollination.

SuperBoost is a 10-component brood pheromone device that is easily hung between the frames of a beehive. The wafer release device allows workers to surround the slow release pheromone membrane and contact minute amounts of the brood pheromone. Scientific studies have shown excellent results. One device place in the hive works for over 30 days.

Pherotech claims the following benefits will be seen.

Increases the pollen load each foraging worker brings back to the hive by up to 100%
Increases the colony growth rate in the summer and winter
Lowers the age of first foraging by worker honey bees
Increases the overall health of the hive
Increases the number of young worker bees
Increases queen feeding and egg laying rate
Increases honey production
Inhibits swarming
Stimulates feeding on pollen patties and antibiotic supplements by over-wintering honey bees.
Increases pollen foraging on the target crop by 43%
Increases pollination activity of non-pollen foragers on the target crop by 54%
Increases the number of pollen foraging trips per unit time by up to 72%
Increases the number of pollen and nectar foragers by up to 150%
Below are extracts from quotes taken from US beekeeping forums

“I have 6 hives and I put one hive right next to another hive. One has super boost one doesn’t. The one with super boost drew out the combs and the queen was laying within a few days. Within a week they almost had a full super built up. The non super boost hive is slow after almost a month they are still working on the second hive body. The super boost hive bees have pollen sacks stacked so full they can barely fly. About 50% more then the non superboost hive. The super boost hive is in 3 meds and already has honey supers on. They are also full of brood in 3 meds and the amount of bees flying is triple of that of the non super boost hive. Do I believe it works Yes. Because out of the other 4 hives that don’t have super boost the superboost hive is way out doing the rest of the bees. With pollen traps on to see the size difference of the pollen. It is double the size then that of the non super boost hives. This is my account of super boost. And I will use it again.”

“I tried some superboost in early spring. 16 with and 16 without in the same yard. Pretty fair pollen flow and megabee patties. Significantly more activity from the super boost hives. Significantly more pollen in the superboost hives. I did not keep numbers, but the amount of additional brood was not impressive.”

“My first thought was that its not "Natural"..Definitely not a way to manage bees naturally. I mean, its not normal...I'm not saying I wouldn’t consider it, but at the moment I wouldn’t use it.”