"Todd" said: > I have read reports of greatly reduced (50% less) brood levels in spring > following Apilife (thymol) treatments. It also seems to be hard on the > bees- I seem to remember reports of bees moving away from the source, > sometimes bearding on the front of the hive in warmer weather. I have just updated my page on thymol and oxalic acid: http://www.stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk/PENotes/VarroaTreatment.htm and this may help to answer any questions that you may have. You will note that with the method detailed, I have not seen any of these adverse effects that are sometimes reported. Last autumn I fed down 133 colonies and lost 20 of these during the winter - almost all due to queen failure following the disastrous spring and early summer last year. With only two swarms that were not from my colonies, I have this year increased my total to 163. The average crop based on autumn count (i.e. the 133 that I fed for winter) was 77.5lbs (against a 23 year average of 69lbs) and I have around half a ton of heather honey (perhaps 20% of it will be cut-comb) from the 32 colonies that I moved to the moors in August - these were average colonies chosen mainly because they were easy to load, rather than for their strength. Peter Edwards [log in to unmask] www.stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk/ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::