[log in to unmask] wrote:

> ... since these beeHAVERS
> can't SEE the microscopic tracheal mite, they ASSUME the bees do not have the
> mite and hence do NOT treat with menthol in August or grease patties all year.

Grease patties all year is no longer recommended by the researcher
credited with the original work, Diana Sammataro.  Diana spoke at them
summer seminar hosted by the Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association and I
questioned her at length about her work.  Subsequent studies showed that
grease patties can be used in fall/winter (when the bees are confined and
clustered) to keep t-mites sufficiently in check.  The buzz-word/phrase
currently in vogue is "economic threshold", although I do not recall Diana
using that term specifically.  Anyway, her recommendation is for grease
patties for fall and winter, which should keep the dynamics of the t-mite
population low enough so that grease patties in spring and summer should not
be required.  T-mite populations that build up in non-treatment periods will
be checked in the fall when treatment resumes.

Aaron Morris - I think, therefore I bee!