Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DISEASE & PEST CONTROL => Topic started by: mat on July 13, 2005, 11:20:11 am

Title: menthol
Post by: mat on July 13, 2005, 11:20:11 am

Can you use menthol with supers on the hive?

Title: menthol
Post by: Michael Bush on July 13, 2005, 01:15:16 pm

I've never used menthol, but I don't like to use anything that could taint the honey in any way with the supers on.  But then I don't like to use anything that could taint the honey in any way at all.  :)

Title: menthol
Post by: mat on July 13, 2005, 01:44:37 pm

Do you use anything for tracheal mite?

Title: menthol
Post by: Michael Bush on July 13, 2005, 04:55:19 pm

No, I do not.  If the bees are suceptable to Tracheal mites, they are not bees I want to keep.  Tracheal mite resistance is not even hard to breed for.

If I got symptoms of Tracheal mites (K wings etc.) I would treat with grease patties, and requeen and then stop treating again.

Title: menthol
Post by: mat on July 13, 2005, 09:52:52 pm

Michael, do you breed your own queens or you have the source to buy resistant ones.

Title: menthol
Post by: TwT on July 13, 2005, 09:57:00 pm

there are alot of bee's out there for sell that are t-mite resistant and some that are not, ( sorry for butting in MB) the kona queens i got this year are said to be t- mite resistant and there are alot more.  take a look.

http://www.konaqueen.com/

 click on the Italian bee's on the left and it will tell you about them

Title: menthol
Post by: Michael Bush on July 14, 2005, 12:05:31 am

>Michael, do you breed your own queens

Yes, I do now and I also sell them.

> or you have the source to buy resistant ones.

I bought Buckfasts most of the time but I've also bought queens from David Eyre (of beeworks) back when he could ship queens to the US.  They were good norhtern bees and tracheal mite resistant.  I would expect the NWC's and the Minnesota Hygenics to be also.

Title: menthol
Post by: mat on July 14, 2005, 07:48:17 am

Thank you guys. This are very voluable informations opening my eyes. Sometimes practice is different from what books say.

Title: menthol
Post by: stilllearning on July 14, 2005, 10:20:30 pm

Books are for the most part the authors oponion although usually based
on their interpertation of the facts.  The more you look and read the
better qualified you are to arrive at your own conclusion.  I really like
the way Michael Bush answers a lot of questions, he gives an answer,
that makes the person do a little thinking for themselve, therefore
you have the opportunity to learn.  The best way to learn is by doing
something not watching someone else do it for you.  This sometimes
makes an answer to questions sound vague but that is never the
intention.

Title: menthol
Post by: Michael Bush on July 15, 2005, 10:43:07 am

>he gives an answer,
that makes the person do a little thinking for themselve

That's partly the American Indian in me and partly my Dad's influence.  He never answered a question, he made you figure out the answer to the question, which is a much more useful skill. :)