Grease Patty Treatment!
(By: Bob Noel, Jim Amrine and Harry Mallow.)

1. 4 Pounds of Granulated Sugar (sucrose) - (4a)
2. 3 Ounces of corn oil - (25b)
3. 11/2 Pounds Shortening (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil) Ineret ingredient - (4a)
4. 1 Pound of Honey - (4a)
5. 11/2 Ounce of Wintergreen Oil (45ml). Natural oil is preferred. - (4a)
   Note: The synergistic effect of adding sucrose, hydrogenated vegetable oil, honey and wintergreen oil to the active ingredient corn oil has a devestating effect on parasitic mites in honey bees during broodless times.
   (4a) FIFRA Inert Ingredient
   (25b) FIFRA Active Ingredient

• Place all ingredients into a container and mix.
• Make two 4-5 ounce patties and place them both on the top of the brood box beginning late August or early September.
• Continue this treatment for the next two to three months, all winter or year around if desired.

When bees are clustered during cold weather, place one patty close to the cluster so the bees can cluster around the patty. The bees consuming the patties receive a dual effect: it gets into their food chain and the oil gets on their bodies killing both Varroa and Trachael mites.

There are some beekeepers who use grease patties year round and find no signs of Trachael mites and keep Varroa at low levels.

Beekeepers have reported that their results with the natural wintergreen oil has been better than the synthetic wintergreen oil. Using the grease patties and/or paper towels during the winter months seems to suppress any threatening mite build up until late summer or early fall.

Paper Towel Formula:

1. 220 grams of paper towels (folded type) - (4a)
2. 300 ml linseed oil (corn oil or cottonseed oil may also be used) (25b)
3. 11/2 ounce of wintergreen oil. (4a)
   Note: The synergistic effect of adding wintergreen oil to the active ingredient linseed oil has a devestating effect on parasitic mites in honey bees during broodless times.
   (4a) FIFRA Inert Ingredient
   (25b) FIFRA Active Ingredient
   

• Mix oils together in a container
• Place paper towels in container with oils and allow towels to soak up the oil
• If towels are not soaked thoroughly add additional oil to compensate

If only a few towels are needed, mix 10-15% wintergreen in the oil and soak the towels with the oil. (Not dripping wet)

Place one or two towels on top of supers. This systems seems to work best in the fall when there is no brood present or early spring before the bees begin routine daily flights. The bees usually track up the oil and chew up the towels in a few days, when the towels need to be replaced. See the "Hygienic Factor and Essential Oils for more Information."

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