I read recently that a beekeeper who paints his hives (inside and out) with boiled linseed oil has not seen a varroa mite for the last two years.
Is anyone else aware of this or has anyone tried it?
I've painted a hive with a mixture of linseed oil and mineral spirits and intent to monitor it carefully over the next few years.
What makes you think linseed oil has any affect? Once it has dried, there are no fumes or outgassing. Does he have any control hives in the same yard that show varroa? I don't paint mine at all anymore, in or out and I don't have mite problems either.
I haven't seen a Varroa mite for a year (and I have looked) and I don't have a drop of Linseed oil on mine... :)