On 23-Nov-11, at 2:00 PM, Peter Edwards wrote:

> Randy
>> FWIW, it appears to me that thymol is much tougher on a colony  
>> than is
>> oxalic
>
>
> As far as I am aware, thymol does not actually damage the adult  
> bees, whereas I believe that oxalic does.
>

Hi Peter Randy and all

I think that location has a lot to do with what works best.  Thymol  
and formic cannot be used if the daytime temperature is above 30C  
because of brood and queen issues.  We, in this part of Canada, often  
get 30C in August, Randy may get  high temperatures more often in  
California.  We use oxalic in late Nov and early Dec when the temps  
are often below 0C and the likelihood of brood low.  Britain doesn't  
often get the extremes we see here.  Matching the treatments to the  
local conditions is part of what makes all beekeeping local.  Only  
one thymol  product is legal in Canada(crystals are not legal).   
Oxalic is legal in Canada, thanks to the Canadian Honey Council, but  
not in USA as I understand.

Bob Darrell
Caledon Ontario
Canada
44N80W

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