Thymol Crystal

[Foxsquirrel]

I have been reading that several beekeepers are using FGMO by itself, then some are some with USP Grade Laxative type (Walmart Speical / Cheap!)using it and some with STE oil type .86, I guess it is all in relation to their cost and ease of picking it up.
My Question is why THYMOL Crstal and how is it applied. Is it desolved with the FGMO, or placed by itself on the top of the frames in a airflow bag?

[bjerm2]

For you answer see http://www.beesource.com/pov/rodriguz/abjmar2004.htm
You will find its easy to use and very efficent. Thymol kills the mite on contact, it's the vapors that kill it and the FGMO coats the hive and bees which makes the bees start cleaning themselves and knock off the mites. This works if you only use FGMO by itself. If you put thymol in it then the mites get killed on contact. The coating will sufficate mites for the next 2-3 days as they emerge with the brood. They get stuck in the coating of the oil inside the hive. That is why you should be doing the FGMO thing once a week or at the longest every two weeks. This will keep the mite population down. http://www.beesource.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
Hope I have explained to you.
Dan

[loggermike]

>If you put thymol in it then the mites get killed on contact.

Do you have any evidence for this statement?

[bjerm2]

Please read this article. You will find my statement in it. And do you have any evidence to the contrary?
http://www.beesource.com/pov/rodriguez/abjmar2004.htm

Dan

[This message has been edited by bjerm2 (edited August 24, 2004).]

[loggermike]

I was looking for evidence that the thymol/mineral oil fog actually killed mites on contact.I could find none in the article cited,just a statement that it did.So I guess the actual testing hasnt been done to prove that statement or it wasnt considered important enough to mention.

[loggermike]

Dont mis-understand.While I am somewhat suspicious of the statement ,I would be happy to be shown otherwise.There are many substances that will knock mites down off the bees but dont actually kill them.Catching them on a sticky board will skew the results as those mites of course cannot return to the bees.

[bjerm2]

I use screened bottom boards. The FGMO starts the bees into a grooming mode and that will knock a lot of mites off. Once they fall down thru the screens they can not climb back up since my hives are 18 inches off the ground. I have noticed an increase of mites dropping and not moving right after using thymol. I concluded they were dead since when I use FGMO the mites still move around but are sluggish meaning a slow death. That's just my observations. I know it's not scientific but most of what we beekeepers do is not. The bees in my opinion do not read the books and each hive has it's own 'habits'.
Other beekeepers use different oils and acids to accomplish the same thing. I just like to keep something simple like FGMO or add some thymol into the mix especially this time of the year where things are starting to slow down. I do not like using caustic chemicals or pesticides (for lack of a better word) in my hives. I appreciate you questioning and I can only comment on my 30 years of working with these little ladies and what I have found that works for me. http://www.beesource.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
Dan

[This message has been edited by bjerm2 (edited August 25, 2004).]

[Dr. Pedro Rodriguez]

Hello folks.
Thanks for your comments regarding the nature of thymol affecting mites. I have published my tests results widely and with fine details. It has taken me years of minute observations as to how and why thymol kills mites. I have given those details in my publications. I would like to suggest to those who have inquiositive minds as to how "penicillin kills germs" to go to the archives and read extensive writings on the subject matter. Literary research is done world-wide on just about any subject that you might wish to know. The archives in Beesource.com will provide thymol information for you. I do not mean to sound negative. I just do not have the time to supply the same answers to each and every one who writes repeatedly with the same questions. And, yes there is an FAQ list in beesource.com
Best regards and God bless.
Dr. Rodriguez