[log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> Why waste your money?  Essential Oils have NOT been proven effective for
> control
> of either mite.  If they were, surely the Federal Government Labs would have
> announced it particularly to help honey production.
>
> George Imirie
Hello George,
The method i use was developed by the USDA and uses food grade
menthol/canola. I have had better results than with grease patties in
the fall. I was finding patties untouched in the spring so was not
getting control I needed with the patties. Plus the menthol/canola
method is easier. I know you use the dark bees(carnolians)so maybe you
don't need to treat.
I have never used essential oils. A beekeeper in our assn. lost all his
hives trying various essential oils. I don't know the strength of a
menthol essential oil sold.  I suspect the USDA mix is much stronger as
the formula uses a full pound of food grade menthol to 2 pounds of
canola and can run some of the bees right out of the hive at first on a
hot day. If you could get the same strength in a essential menthol oil
and the oil would vaporise as well then i don't see why it wouldn't
work. Only my opinion so maybe other Bee-L people will comment.
I do know untreated my Italians will dwindle and die as i have tried
various experiments. According to the USDA 750,000 hives in the U.S. had
died from TM by the early 1990's. TM is alive and well in the U.S.
Sincerely,
Bob Harrison