Lisa,
I think that during the winter nothing need be done.  Meaning that patties
need not be added and, as you say, they will not be consumed.
For a portion of the winter there will be no brood, and thus no new bees to
be infected.  The speculation is that the oil acts to confuse the mites so
that they cannot "find" the new bees to infect.  Of course, once they are in
a bee trachea they cannot be treated; the objective is to keep them out of
the trachea or, failing that, to keep the trachea populations low.
I presume, but do not know, that during the winter mite reproduction slows.
Lloyd
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Keeler, Lisa <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, May 08, 1998 12:35 PM
Subject: Oil Patties
 
 
>You say that oil/sugar patties have to be in continuously to be
>effective against tracheal mites.  What is to be done in the winter when
>its too cold to replace the patties and what effect do the patties have
>if the Crisco is cold and solid and probably does not transfer to the
>bees well?