Boy oh boy oh boy...
 
 
On Tue, 28 Oct 1997 13:46:18 -0700 Eric Abell <[log in to unmask]>
writes:
>At 12:02 PM 24/10/97 -0600, you wrote:
>>This fall I used a mixture of Crisco and menthol to treat for
>tracheal
>>mites. The menthol pellets were dissolved in melted Crisco and the
>mixture
>>was soaked up in a roll of shop grade paper towels. One towel was
>placed
>>in the top of each hive.
>>
>>I will not know until spring how effective this treatment is, but I
>did
>>make an interesting observation a week or two later. The temperature
>is
>>quite cold now ( -2C to +7C ) but, since my hives are insulated
>above, the
>>bees generated enough heat to vaporise the menthol. The inner covers,
>>however, were cold enough to cause the menthol vapor to recrystallize
>in
>>long thin needles on the lower surface. On checking unused towels
>>with a magnifier, one can see the menthol has recrystallized there in
>very
>>tiny needles.
>>
>
>Of course it does.  Everyone knows that's how menthol works.  As the
>needles
>drop down they pierce and kill the mites.  In more evolved bees they
>can
>actually break off these needles and attack the mites.
>
>Eric Abell
>Gibbons, Alberta Canada T0A 1N0
>Ph/fax (403) 998 3143
>[log in to unmask]
>