Ok I'm going to go through this one time and I'm not going to furnish any
papers to prove that I'm not lying.
 
It is thought that during the removal of the vegetable oil from the hive
creates greasy bees.  This in turn hinder the migration of the mature
V-mites from the older bees to the younger bees.  The patties can be in the
form of Crisco or other solid vegetable oils placed directly on a paper
towel or can be patties without the terrimycen.  Some people say that the
paper towel method is better and others like the patty method.  Personally I
make my patties only about half a pound is size and put them between waxed
paper.  When I put them in the hive, I tear holes in the paper so that the
bees can get at it.  The waxed paper keeps it together so that the patty can
be moved out of the way to manipulate the hive.
 
As far as I know there are no official papers written about this method.  It
is something that is being tried by numerous beekeers in Georgia and
Tennessee and seems to be an effective method of slowing the spread of
V-mites during production periods when the bees cannot be medicated.
 
Frank Humphrey
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