menthol towelettes

[reubenburwell]

I've heard of people using some sort of solution (perhaps mineral or vegetable oil?) into which menthol crystals are dissolved. Paper towels are then soaked in the solution, and can be used as needed for mite control. Does anyone know of a good recipe?
Thanks

[tandemrx]

Here is the Beekeeping for Dummies version of the "Paper towel method" (mentioned as effective menthol treatment for tracheal mites that isn't temperature dependent - I know that conventional wisdom is that methol packets work best when it is over 70 degrees, but less than 80 for at least a week).

I have never done this, I just copied it from the book:

• gently warm one pint of canola oil on the stove
• once the oil is warm to the touch (not hot), dissolve the contents of one 1.8-ounce menthol packet in the oil
• put the menthol-and-oil mixeture in a one-gallon resealable plastic foot bag, or in a shallow food starage container (the kind with an airtight snap-on lid) and place folded paper towels in the mixtureput as many folded towels in the oil as you can fit.  You want the towels well saturated with the menthol-and-oil mixture.
• place one menthol-oil paper towel on the top bars of the brood chamber and replace as needed
  replace towels every 2 weeks during the winter when the mite does its worst damage.  Keep unused paper towels tightly sealed in the plastic food container.  The menthol eventually recrystallizes, but a short stint in the microwave (on half power) liquefies the mixture.

[BEES4U]

FYI:
Jim Amrine, at West Virginia University.
This is his writeup, in part. The last I saw, he was testing the amounts
and also the effect on Varroa.
Bill Truesdell
Bath, ME

1): Measure and mix the following:
Place two standard packs of menthol crystals (3.4 oz. or 100 grams) in
an 8-oz. (118.3 cc) measuring cup, and then add canola oil to fill.
Microwave for 4 minutes at 50% power. Check to see that all crystals
dissolved—if not, microwave for an additional minute at 50% power. Must
be used while warm otherwise crystals will reform.
2): Add to paper towels:
Remove 30 paper towels from one roll; fold in half and stack. Put stack
of paper towels into a large zip-lock bag and add 1 cup of warm
menthol-canola.
Zip the bag shut then squeeze the towels in the bag until all towels are
evenly saturated. If one end of towels is somewhat dry, turn the bag
sideways putting dry end down—in about 10 minutes, all will be evenly
saturated.
Thus, one cup of menthol-canola mix will treat 30 paper towels—using 2
towels per colony, this will treat 15 colonies.
Towels can be stored at room temperature indefinitely if the bag is
zipped closed.
3): Add to colonies:
Do not add to colonies while a honey flow is on. Place one paper towel
over the top bars of each brood chamber. Best time to treat is
September. (Tracheal mites are usually not a problem from May to
September, so no menthol needs to be used until the time that mites
begin to build up in late August or September). Colonies can be treated
anytime during the winter when temperatures rise above about 45 F. We
recommend this treatment whenever tracheal mites are found; additional
treatments can be made in December, January and February. The bees will
chew up the paper towels and discard them at the entrance in 3-4 days
(or longer in winter). This mix caused no harm to our bees but
definitely reduced or eliminated the tracheal mites.

Regards,
Ernie Lucas Apiaries

[annette]

Just a side thing. HI Bees4u. You are new to this forum I just noticed. Welcome. You should change your locaton so we know where you live. Always exciting to see if someone lives close to me. You sound like you have a large bee yard.

If you get the chance, tell us your story in new member profiles.

Take Care
Annette

[pdmattox]

I believe he is in ventura,kali ;) Welcome to the forum.

[ArmucheeBee]

Newbee question:   How do you know the bees have Tracheal mites?  Do a Tracheotomy? 

[BEES4U]

LOL:
:roll:As you may or may not be educated in the labratory procedures of checking for t. mites it helps if you have at least a 50 power dissecting microscope.
For a lab fee you can send in a sample of bees and the lab will report back to you on both tracheas.
Or, you can tease the trachea of the bee for gross abnormalities.
Regards,
Ernie