honey and grease patties

[willsalmond]

I'm a new beekeeper this season. I read a beekeeping book recently that suggested the use of honey for a grease patty recipe. Here is my concern. Mixed up a batch over the weekend including 1/2 lb of commercial honey purchased at a local store, marked "pure honey, natural US grade A" and mixed it in with the crisco and sugar. (decided not to collect honey the first year but just worry about the hive's health) Put the patty in yesterday but last night was told that you should only use honey from your own hive as the commercial honey could contain harmful spores or bacteria in it that could harm or destroy the colony. Removed it today but the patty was getting alot of interest. Is the concern about commerical honey valid? Any thoughts or suggestions. Keep the patties with commercial honey on or off? Kind thanks for any suggestions. Great forum! Will

[AstroBee]

Been fortunate to enough to have never had any sort of brood disease (AFB or EFB) so all I can state is just a gutt feel. I would not use honey from outside sources in my hives. Is the risk real? Probably. Is the likelihood high that you've introduced sores into your hives? Can't say, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

I'd be more concerned about using grease patties in SHB territory. Beetles love grease patties! I used grease patties my first year of beekeeping because all the books said to use them. Later I found that t-mites are not generally a big problem and v-mites are better handled with other methods.