Thymol mixed as follows
30g thymol crystals placed in honey jar,
add 5ml of isopropyl alcohol to the crystals, place jar into a water bath of boiling water to speed up the dissolving process.
In another jar pour in 140 ml of boiling water and add 1 teaspoon of lecithin granules, stir well, and place this jar into a water bath of boiling water, stirring often for about ten minutes or so until most of the lecithin granules have dissolved, you can then strain this mixture through a tea strainer or similar to remove any granules that have not dissolved fully, then simply add the dissolved thymol to this mix, and shake well, will look just like a jar of milk.
To use add 5ml to each gallon of syrup and stir well, syrup will go milky,
If the mixture forms any crystals at a later date, tip into old small pan and reheat, do this outdoors.
I find this works well in the feed or if the bees are in a bad way or will not take from a feeder
fill a small garden spray bottle and spray the bees and comb directly
Tests have shown Thymol works the best when treating Nosema
As always use at your own risk
PLEASE NOTE
All treatments listed here are used at your own risk!
I use them all myself but you should not use any on production hives for collecting honey for human consumption.
100g. Thymol crystals (handle with care – avoid skin contact)
200g. TREX or other solid pure vegetable fat (no additives, preservatives or emulsifiers)
700g. Superfine or Regular Sugar (Not confectioners)
(sufficient for about 12 colonies)
Instructions
Melt the TREX in a saucepan and allow it to cool until warm to the touch. Put the sugar into a plastic container and thoroughly mix in the Thymol crystals until all lumps are broken down. Add the sugar/Thymol mixture to the melted Crisco and mix thoroughly until the mixture is the consistency of a paste. If well sealed the mixture may be stored in the bottom of a refrigerator for up to 12 months.
Usage
On a piece of grease-proof paper about 2″ square spread about a teaspoon of the mixture so that it is about 1/4″ thick and place on top of the brood frames. You can also use any lid with a lip from a food storage container as a tray. The inner cover should allow a bee space above the paste. All ventilation should be closed except a 3/8″ wide entrance. Refresh the mixture very two weeks until the drop falls below 2-3 mites per week.
The ambient temperature needs to be above about 59°F unless the hive is insulated. Expanded polystyrene works well (about 3/4″ thick) and can be left on all winter.
Note: do not apply the Thymol treatement when supers are still on or at least during main nectar flow. It is also advisable to remove excess winter stores in the spring before the bees transfer it into the supers
06. January 2016 by beeman
Categories: Bee Health |
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Wintergreen Treatment for Tracheal mites & Varroa mites
Wintergreen Grease recipe
This is one of my favourite Bee recipes. We can knock out Tracheal mites, Varroa mites, all in one shot. Here’s the ingredients list.
302 gm of regular Sugar
114g Trex or Pura
75g of Honey
10ml of Natural Wintergreen Oil
Mix the sugar and Trex together completely. It will look very dry. Keep turning it. When you add the Honey, warm the Honey in the microwave before adding. This helps to mix it completely and is easier to do so. Mix well. The Honey will turn this mix to much like thick dough. When it’s all completely mixed, make a shallow hole in the middle. Measure out 10ml of Wintergreen oil or empty a full 10 ml bottle Mix this W.G. oil in completely. When done. I store my W.G. grease mix in the fridge, to keep it firm. When we add this to the back of the rebate, the warmth from the colony will thin this mix out a bit. So I want it firmer, versus thinner, after I’ve mixed all the ingredients. Only apply this to the number of frames the bees are working. If 5 out of 10, then add it to the back rabbit on those 5 frames. If it’s a full 10 frames, add all the way across. If you run double brood, this mix needs to go in between these boxes on the back rabbit. I use my hive tool. When you done you can also brush a little around the edge of the boxes. Why? This helps to keep the bees, from sticking the boxes together so tightly. The next time you come out to open and inspect, you’ll find that these boxes are much easier to get apart. Enjoy! This treatment should be used as an extra just as your putting the bees to bed for the winter.
Wintergreen Warning:
10 ml on the skin is lethal!
It is absorbed and stops the heart.
Wear gloves!
This Bee Tonic will help your Bees with Nosema and mites. Boost there own immune system.
After a long winter it`s just the kick start help they need.
In a blender*** combine:
1/2 pint water
5 ml tea tree oil (for nosema control)
5 ml lemongrass oil
5ml spearmint oil (for mites & immune system)
1 Table Spoon of your own Honey (to help emulsify the mix)
Blend until thoroughly emulsified, approximately 5 minutes. Pour the emulsified solution into a 2 Litre jug and add water to make 2 Litres. (Do not heat) This is the concentrate. It will keep for months. (A jug of concentrate will make 30 Litres of 1:1 syrup
To feed: (Spring)
Add 60 ml concentrate to 1 Litre of cooled sugar syrup.
#beekeeping Getting an early build up of bees in spring is important to all of us to help Pollen Patties are really helpful here a very simple recipe to make a pollen patties
1 cup pollen substitute (I use Bee Pro or Ultra Bee)
1/2 cup sugar syrup (1:1 or 2:1)
1/4 tsp HoneyBHealthy similar recipe on my blog
You can buy Ultra Bee or Bee Pro from www.the-beeman.co.uk
Around the 1st of March is when i start placing the patties directly on the frames
Bee Pro www.the-beeman.co.uk
02. February 2015 by beeman
Categories: General |
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A well known commercially available general purpose essential oil product for bees that is similar to the following recipe claims many benefits even though many of those claims have yet to be proven. But it seems to work well with my bees. They just love it
It`s the spearmint Oil that works all the magic and the Lemon grass Oil that encourages them to take it!The University Of West Virginia
has been doing a lot of research It to the effects of Varroa Mites on honey bees and the effects of Spearmint and Lemon Grass and the effect it has improving the Bees own immune system. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070518144833.htm5 cups water
2 1/2 pounds of sugar
1 teaspoon lecithin granules (used as an emulsifier)
15 drops spearmint oil
15 drops lemongrass oil
Bring the water to a boil and stir in the sugar until it is dissolved. Once the sugar is dissolved remove the mixture from the heat and quickly add the lecithin and after cooling for a bit, then essential oils. Stir the mixture thoroughly. This solution should have a strong scent and not be left open around bees. Cool before using.
The above is a base mix you add to 1:1 Sugar Syrup
ADD 5ml per Litre
To use as a drench in a spray bottle I add 20ml Per Litre
You can use it instead of smoke and just spray the bees it keeps them calm on the frame.
Be careful when there is no nectar flow it can encourage robbing.
I find to get the best result give it to your bees once a week for 3 weeks in a row.
Those willing to travel and collect direct from me this year will be able to buy Queen Cells that will be ready to emerge within a couple of days.
If for any reason the Queen fails to emerge you will be able to exchange for another cell as long as the queen cell and cup are returned undamaged.
Each cell will cost £8.50 and is a very cheap way to re-queen a hive or if your thinking of expanding and need lots you can save you self a fortune!
This will enable rapid low cost expansion. On any given day we have around 50 or 60 cells ready to emerge.
Queen cell will be packaged so they will not chill during transport back to your apiary as long as your not too long
Queen cell will be available from around Mid April onwards give me a call on 07770777603 any time up to 11pm