Jeff, I don't buy packages (have not had to in a long time) but I would treat with OA upon installing the bees in the hive. It's a perfect time for eliminating mites. I bought a package of Italian bees when I started to keep bees several years ago. By the end of the summer it was crashing with mites. Waldemar ****************************************************** * Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm * ******************************************************