Use of Diatomaceous Earth (DE) on Bee Mites (and for "sterilizing" a previously infected bee box)

Just be aware that the DE will have the same affect on the bees as it would on other insects. I would use it as a treatment and then wash/eliminate all traces of the DE before introducing the bees again.

I don't keep bees yet so have not been able to experiment on my own at all. I have head that using de powder on the ground below a hive that has a mesh bottom is good because mites will fall down and the de will kill them but the bees will be unharmed because they are flying out of the hove and away to flowers. not hanging out where the de is.

Then how do you propose controlling the mites that are IN the hive and causing issues right ON the bees?

i have heard people dust the bees with sugar to encourage them to clean the mites off. there is also a belief that because of poor breeding practices there are now many weak bees and sometimes letting a hive die is for the best. I have learned a lot from a podcast I used to listen to. I just looked for it and am not finding it. there are a lot of bee keepers here. I just want to keep bees and have read a lot and listened to podcast's on the subject.

this may be it http://podgallery.org/organically-managed-beekeeping/