On Tue, 16 Jul 1996, David Eyre wrote:
 
> >On Mon, 15 Jul 1996, John Taylor wrote:
> >
> >> After installation of my first hive this Spring, Apistan Strips were
> >> installed.  After I added the second BC, strips were also added to
> >> that.  As I have come to not expect any honey this year (sigh!) I have
> >> just left the Apistan in place.  What is the useful life of a strip?
> >> How often do they need to be replaced?
>
>  On Tues, 16 Jul 1996, Ian Watson wrote
> >Although I'm not an expert, i knoiw that you should not leave Apistan
> >strips in for more than the recommended 7 weeks (42 days).  Otherwise,
> >You might be helping the mites become immune to the chemical.  Well, thats
> >my 2 cents worth..:)
> >
> >Has anyone tried using natural treatments?.....like putting peppermint or
> >spearmint leaves on the top bars of the highest super?....One of the
> >fellows in our local beekeepers group tried this and says he is mite free.
> >Just wondering....
>
> When writing mite free, do you mean Varroa Mites, Tracheal Mites or both, I
> have heard of natural oil treating for Tracheal Mites but not for Varroa.
> Please verify this statement as it is very interesting.
>     ****************************************************
>    * David Eyre          9 Progress Drive, Unit 2,  *
>    * The Beeworks,    Orillia, Ontario, L3V 6H1. *
>    * [log in to unmask]      705-326-7171 *
>    * http://www.muskoka.net/~beeworks           *
>    *  Agents for: E H Thorne &  B J Sherriff UK. *
>    ****************************************************
>
Well....i'm not sure which mites the beekeeeper meant when he said
"mite-free"......but i'm guessing it's the tracheal mites...possibly
because the bees breathe in the volitile fumes from the peppermint or
speermint...if anyone else has any other anecdotal evidence, i would like
to hear..
Thanks..
 
                          Ian Watson
                   [log in to unmask]