> On the cough drop issue- recall that a few years ago I raised the
> question to the group in response to a beekeeper who was using them.
> Kind replies to the list were rather convincing that the amount of
> menthol in cough drops and the concentration present just weren't
> anywhere near that necessary to kill mites.
 
I don't use cough drops either since I agree that the menthol is very
little. However, we might consider that, whereas a sac of menthol (the
usual treatment for tracheal mites) works by filling the entire hive with
menthol vapor, a cough drop might work more efficiently since the bees
lick it. So even if it has far less menthol, the menthol is awfully
concentrated at the bee's mouth. It could be that this sudden
concentration does indeed kill mites.
 
Conrad Sigona
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