Dear Bob & All, Following on from your message, we have seen obvious decreases in the incidence of both European and American foulbrood in colonies treated with Apiguard over time. It's extremely difficult to quantify but we've had many independent responses from beekeepers both professional and hobbyists here in the UK, in France, Italy and in North Africa in particular who have used Apiguard over two or three seasons. They say the bees are really healthy and vigorous. Thymol is a natural bacteriocide, fungicide, acaricide and at high doses, insecticide. In addition it seems that the bees clean the hive more efficiently in the presence of Apiguard gel - they want to get rid of it and at the same time they end up doing a scouring job of the brood frames. Devious I know, getting them to do all that extra work but it wasn't planned like that! Apiguard is NOT a treatment for chalkbrood or for either European or American Foulbrood; it often helps but it should not be relied upon for complete control of brood diseases. The extent of control is also dependent on the activity and behaviour of the adult bees. Bee activity and thymol sublimation from the gel matrix are both partly affected by environmental temperature. Humidity may also come into it but in the numerous trials we've done so far there is no clear link with humidity alone. Max Dr Max Watkins Vita (Europe) Limited 21/23 Wote Street Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 7NE UK Tel.: +44 (0) 1256 473177 Fax: +44 (0) 1256 473179 e-mail: [log in to unmask] web: http://www.vita-europe.com :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: BEE-L subscribers are reminded to read and follow the guidelines for posting, which are available online at: http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::