How To Use Essential Oils To Control Honey Bees Mites

 Mites are one of the threats that is rotting honey industry by sometimes causing death of the entire colony. They render bees incapable of producing honey and carrying out pollination. Thereby the use of essential oils saves bees from mites and beekeepers from economic loss. Even among the mites, Varroa mites are considered to incur a greater loss to honey colonies globally. They are the vectors which carry harmful and destructive bacteria as well as fungal parasites, thus making bees susceptible to danger. Sometimes the number of lost colonies reaches millions. Therefore you can imagine how important it is to stop mites from causing apocalypse in the bee industry.

Other than Varroa mites, tracheal are known to affect queen bee, worker bees and drones drastically. They damage the trachea of bees and draw essential nutrients from the hemolymph of honey bees. Therefore a small amount of essential oils in bee feeder can keep these destructive mites at a bay.

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are obtained from plants which they use for defensive purposes. These oils offer protection to plants against various insects and animals by being poisonous or repelling them away. These oils are harvested mainly by the process of distillation and pressing. They not only control mite’s infestation but also attract potential pollinators. If a beehive is infected with mites it only survives for a time period of two years. Therefore it is crucial to have an option other than Apistan and Apivar, which is safe, cheaper, environment-friendly and lasts longer. Essential oils tend to carry all these qualities as well as (mites have not developed resistance to them.) these oils don’t allow mite infestation to spread further to other colonies.

Various Kinds of Essential Oils And How to Use Them

The types of essential oils that are preferred for bees in hives are as follows:

Lemongrass Oil:

These are usually packed in spray bottles and carry anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. They are also known to stimulate bees to intake food and attract bees to hives. This oil contains geranic and citral acid that causes the death of mites. However, it should be used sparingly in weaker colonies as it may attract robber bees.

Thymol Oil:

These are extracted from thyme plants. This oil is also used in various commercial products of mite control. It is capable of killing mites by blocking their pores and causes confusion. Thus making them fall at the bottom of the hive. It has an anti-fungal property and stops chalkbrood as well. Thymol oil should be used carefully as it is injurious to honey bees at higher concentrations.

Eucalyptol Oil, Menthol And Wintergreen Oil:

These essential oil work for Varroa mites and tracheal mites as well. When grease patties containing wintergreen oil are fed to bees, it helps to fight tracheal mite’s infestation with great effectiveness. The use of the screen bottom board is advisable while using wintergreen oil. It is anti-fungal and keeps mold away in beehives. The ratio of sugar and oil in green patties should be 1:1.

Spearmint Oil:

It is combined with lemongrass to improve the health condition of bees. It blocks pores of mites and disorients them. This combination enables bees to become resistant to various other pathogens transmitted by mites.

Tea Tree Oil:

It can be used in grease patties for controlling mites. It can also be a great alternative to wintergreen.