Mite Control in Honeybees With Essential Oils. Jim Amrine, Bob Noel, Harry Mallow, Terry Stasny, Robert Skidmore (Last Updated: December 30, 1996) Back to Mite Control in Honeybees With Essential Oils Main Page Contents Essential Oils have Two Modes of ActionRevised Dosages Used in Experimental TreatmentsNotes About Grease PattiesTiming of TreatmentsRecent FindingsComments on VarroatosisComments on Natural Resistance to VarroatosisEPA Exemption of Essential OilsNotes about tracheal mitesImages from Research We have found that several essential oils can either kill, or adversely affect varroa mites. Essential Oils have Two Modes of Action: 1) Toxicity by direct contact: When varroa mites contact essential oils such as wintergreen, patchouli, tea tree oil, et al., mixed into oil or grease, they are killed on contact--usually within a few minutes. 2) Impaired reproduction via feeding syrups containing essential oils: When varroa mites feed on larvae that contain essential oils, their reproduction is interrupted. 1). 2). 3). 4). 2).
Natural Oils and Other Substances for Mite Control in Honey Bees. The use of natural oils and other substances in the pursuit of mite control in honey bee colonies. This document mainly covers the calibration of LD 50 doses of essential oils with respect to honey bees. Natural or "essential" oils are produced by plants in order to repel predatory insects or to render the plant in some way toxic to the insect if ingested. There may be a secondary role in attracting would be pollinators, but this is my personal conjecture and is based on the use of some plants and their extracts being rubbed onto hive parts in order to render them more attractive to a passing swarm.
Essential oils have been shown to have antimicrobial, antifungal, insecticidal and miticidal effects on various pathogens and pests under both laboratory and field conditions. Essential oils have been used for treating honey bee afflictions, including infestations of parasitic mites (varroa and Acarine (tracheal) mites). Essential Oils and their Toxicity to Honeybees Research Results Methodology. Top Bar Beekeeping. One of the great things about beekeeping is the many ways that bees can be housed. The Kenya-style "top bar" hive is a lower cost alternative to the standard movable-frame hive, but produces less honey.
I experimented with top bar hives in the early 1980's, and then used them when serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Fiji. I still occasionally maintain one or two Kenya-style top bar hives. My friend Petero (right) inspects a hive by removing one top-bar to give some working room, then lifts each comb to check colony development and condition. Each comb is returned to the hive in the proper order. The Kenya top bar hive has been used extensively in development work because it is easy to build and its relatively low cost. Advantages of a top bar hive: Only one critical dimension for construction (1 & 3/8") No extractor needed No foundation No frames Cheap Less area exposed when handling bees. Bush Bees, foundationless frames, top bar hive, long hives, natural cell size, natural beekeeping. English, español, deutsche русском română polsku беларускай Kenya Top Bar Hive The object of a Top Bar Hive (TBH) is to be easy and cheap to construct, easy to work and having natural sized cells.
A Kenya style (sloped sides) is so that the combs are more naturally strong and less likely to break and collapse when they are full of honey. This hive worked very well with no comb collapses. The small combs are easy to handle and not nearly as fragile as large free hanging combs. The pictures are, from left to right: Kenya style Top Bar Hive being constructed. The entrance to the KTBH is just the front bar back from the front at least 3/8" The top sets on top of a 3/4" top bar so the entrance is 3/4" high and 3/8" wide and is really just the gap in front of the first bar.
Parts List: Tanzanian Top Bar Hive Long medium depth hive. Comb Measurements Just to show some measurements. FAQs Question: Some people say that TBH's don't winter well in cold climates. Answer: In my experience no. Answer: