Original Four Treatment Hives!
We have observed the use of various essential oils has a positive effect on the bees. The underlying mechanisms of action are not fully understood; therefore claims of efficacy cannot be made. There are also various reports that state they actively stimulate the immune system in helping to resist pathogens. This is also poorly understood. Also, the process in which the oils are extracted and growing conditions can make a difference in efficacy from year to year making it even more difficult to make claims.
We present no claims of efficacy using essential oils only observations.
September 1995
These are the original four treatment hives that were fed the essential oils. They were fed .45cc's per quart of oils (three wintergreen and one spearmint) in honey and sugar water. The natural oils mixed well with the honey, but some of the oil kicked out and floated to the top in the sucrose mixtures. When the bees would take the last surge from the jars the raw oils would kill about a dozen bees. We recently discovered the oils readily bond to corn syrup. The reason being fructose is a 5-carbon sugar molecule
These hives were fed starting July 15, 1995 when they were in PMS (varroasis) and on the verge of collapse. Within fifteen days we began to observe healthy bees hatch with the single female mite that entered the cell. The PMS (varroasis) seemed to clear-up as long as the bees took the syrup even with the presence of mites and the pathogens they carry. This continued until September when the honey flow started when we began to notice an increase of deformed bees hatching. We observed at this time the bees were diluting the essential oil syrup down with incoming nectar, which found later in, repeated experiments to be true.
Recently we have developed an essential oil emulsifyable concentrate, which goes into all blends of sugar solutions with no oils floating on the top, which allows each bee to get an even dose of the feeding stimulant. We tested this product the past year as a feeding stimulant with excellent results. We fed this mixture (10cc per quart) to a group of test hives as a feeding stimulant during late winter, early spring and during dearths of nectar and observed excellent results. The only other treatment used was wintergreen grease patties placed in these hives in the fall. We had a drought this past August and with no incoming nectar to dilute the mixture we observed healthy bees hatching in most all cells checked in late August with mites present. We observed feeding this blend of the feeding stimulant seemed to keep the colonies healthy even with the presence of mites.
Deformed Bee on Comb!
Click HERE To View Video Of Deformed Bee!
Click HERE To View Video Of Deformed Bee #2!
Healthy Bee Hatching with Single Mite!
4:26 PM 10/19/95
Single Varroa on Hatching Bee with Immature Mites in Bottom of Cell! We observed the oils fed to the bees (.45cc per quart) seemed to boost the immune system of the bees preventing deformities. In nature, bees that show resistance to Varroa mites may be due in part to the nectar, pollen and propolis they gather and take back to their hive boosting their immune system.
Click HERE To View Healthy
Bee Hatching With Mite!
Immature Varroa in Bottom of Cell!
4:27 PM 10/19/95
This low dose of .45cc in sugar water, which was not emulsified, helped the bees to resist the pathogens. Immature young mites can be seen in the bottom of the cell after the healthy bee hatched. Many of these immature varroa are still alive, but their normal growth seems to be interrupted.
Cocoon Removed From Cell and Torn Open to Show Dead Immature Varroa!
4:28 PM 10/19/95
You can see several immature female mites in the bottom of the cell above. The bee hatched healthy with the single adult female mite that entered the cell.
Click
HERE To View Dead Immature
Varroa in Bottom Of Cell!
