The case for vegetable oil as a treatment for tracheal mites is a strong
one, as indicated in the following papers:
Delaplane, K.S. 1992. J. Econ. Entomol. 85(6):2118-2124
Liu, T.P. & M.E. Nasr. 1993. Am. Bee J. 133(12):873-875
Sammataro, D. et al. 1994. J. Econ. Entomol. 87(4):910-916