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]