Hello All, I have never used creosote bottoms boards nor do I plan to in the future but several beekeepers have wanted me to ask the list a question. A large area beekeeper had around 2000 bottom boards of his own design coated with cresote at a local( out of business now) cresote plant. His operation begain to experience trouble with hive death after he started using the bottoms. The mites had hit so most figured the mites were the primary problem. After the beekeepers death many of the boards were sold and many other beekeepers have said bees don't thrive on those cresote bottom boards he had made up. Most said once they remove the board and replace with a non cresote board the hive condition improves. Dwindling and not thriving are most often described. question: Was the cresote plant mix wrong and this is a isolated incident or have others had or seen a similar problem? From the dictionary: Creosote- an oily liquid obtained by the distillation of wood tar and coal tar, used as an antiseptic and preservative. Sincerely, Bob Harrison Odessa, Missouri