Mite Control in Honeybees
with
Essential Oils
East Antrim Beekeepers
Michael Young
Institute of Northern Ireland Beekeepers
www.inibeekeepers.com
The “Black Death” of Honeybees
Varroasis
Florida
20.000
California
30.000
Europe
75.000
UK
20.000
Essential Oils
Are strongly scented oils that are created through the
distillation of plant materials. Most commonly derived
from the flowers, leaves or stems of a plant, they
may also be derived from fruit or the skin of a fruit.
Many of these oils have common uses in aroma
theory and alternative medicine
Beekeepers however, also may have a used for a
select few of these common oils
Essential oils can often be found in health food stores
or aromatherapy shops, the price may be high, but
keep in mind that a little oil will go a long way.
Essential Oils/Grease
Patties
Essential Oils have Two Modes of Action
1. Toxicity by direct contact
2. When Varroa mites feed on larvae that
contain essential oils, their reproduction is
interrupted
Impaired Reproduction
in feeding syrups containing
essential oils
•When Varroa mites feed on larvae that contain essential
oils, their reproduction is interrupted
•If the oil is strong enough, the females are unable
to lay eggs
•If the oils are in lower concentration, eggs are layed, but
development of immature mites is delayed
•Young mites do not reach maturity before the bees emerge
from the cell; consequently, the immature mites die.
The syrup and essential oil is ingested by nurse bees
and enters the communal food in the crop and
passes into the milk glands.
When the nurse bees feed larvae, the essential oils
are in the bee milk and communal food and are
ingested by the larvae.
Thus, when female varroa mites feed on treated
larvae or larval food at the bottom of the cell, they
ingest the essential oils which adversely affect their
reproduction.
Trophalaxis
Dosages Used in
Experimental Treatments
Syrup: 25 drops (1 cc) of wintergreen
or spearmint is
One pint of honey (or two cups of
sugar (about one pound or 453.6
grams)
Quart gallon (0.95 liter); hot water is
added to fill the jar.
Commonly Used Oils
Banana
Though it has been unconfirmed, reports state
that banana oil seems to closely mimic the alarm
pheromone of honeybees
Lemon Grass
Works conveniently as well as the pheromone
created by the honeybee’s nasanov gland
Peppermint
Oil is used as a general-purpose pheromone
masking scent
Paper Towel Formula
220 grams of paper towels
300 ml linseed oil (corn oil )
1 ½ ounce of wintergreen oil.
Note: The synergistic effect of adding
wintergreen oil to the active ingredient
linseed oil has a devastating effect on
parasitic mites in honey bees during
broodless times.
Feeding
Grease Patties/Treatment
4 Pounds of Granulated Sugar
3 Ounces of corn/vegetable oil
1 ½ Pounds Shortening
1 Pound of Honey
1 ½ Ounce of Wintergreen Oil (45ml)..
This Treatment controls Tracheal Mites Year
Around and Varroa Mites During
Broodless Periods
Emulsifyable Concentrate!
Feeding stimulant during late
winter/early spring and dearth's or
nucs
Conclusions
•Have delayed onset of economic threshold
•Drone Foundation
•Use bottom screens
•Essential oils
•Grease patties
•Spray/feed
Thank you any Questions!