Does anyone know a good recipe for making BEE Quick? I have some almond oil a friend is providing. What else is in it?
Perhaps Mr. fisher would tell you! :-D :-I am sure the exact amounts and all ingredients are a trade secret. You may be able to duplicate the smell without the effect.
I can only tell you it smells like benzaldehyde and that benzaldehyde is what George Imirie used for driving bees out of supers. Jim says it's a mixture of food grade essential oils. If so, there is an obvious almond smell to it.
Quote from: Michael Bush on June 15, 2012, 04:01:38 PM
I can only tell you it smells like benzaldehyde and that benzaldehyde is what George Imirie used for driving bees out of supers. Jim says it's a mixture of food grade essential oils. If so, there is an obvious almond smell to it.
Mike, you are right. I tried the almond extract, it has no effect on the bees. My son is really good at finding things on the internet and you are right the active ingredient is benzaldehyde. I ended up just shaking the bees off the frames at the farm and bought a bottle of bee bom on the way home for the hive in town. I'm not messing with benzaldehyde. I'll leave that for the pros.
I also found out that Canada banned it because it can form large crystals on the board that can fall into the hive. I have a terry cloth stapled to an inner board and I use as little as possible and brush the board after wards to knock off any crystals.
Jim