Despite a great many claims to the contrary, there are no essential oil treatments to a colony of honey bees that will control varroa populations in your hives.
The Tools of Varroa Management Guide produced by the Honey Bee Health Coalition lists low-dosage mineral oils as an "Ineffective Treatment" for varroa mites.
The one exception to the rule is thyme. I think there is some debate as to whether thymol, derived from tyme, is actually an essential oil or not, but thymol has been a proven active ingredient in effective varroa control products Api-Guard and Api Var Life.
When varroa first hit the US in the late 80's and spread through-out the early 90's, beekeepers fogged gallons and gallons of FGMO mixed with various assortments of essential oils. Unfortunately, these efforts did not prove effective at controlling varroa mites. However, the practice lives on through the internet and the handing down of "wisdom" from beekeeper to beekeeper.
The Tools of Varroa Management Guide produced by the Honey Bee Health Coalition lists low-dosage mineral oils as an "Ineffective Treatment" for varroa mites.
The one exception to the rule is thyme. I think there is some debate as to whether thymol, derived from tyme, is actually an essential oil or not, but thymol has been a proven active ingredient in effective varroa control products Api-Guard and Api Var Life.
When varroa first hit the US in the late 80's and spread through-out the early 90's, beekeepers fogged gallons and gallons of FGMO mixed with various assortments of essential oils. Unfortunately, these efforts did not prove effective at controlling varroa mites. However, the practice lives on through the internet and the handing down of "wisdom" from beekeeper to beekeeper.
