[crofter]

I can't remember reading much consensus on the benefits of essential oils. I mean from serious, controlled experiments, not anecdotal claims. Many of them do have miticide capabilities but their bee lethality safety margins are rather narrow. There was an experiment done which may have contributed HBH popularity where it appeared to reduce mortality when combined with extended formic acid treatments. Have not heard how repeatable the results are or the supposed mechanism.

I purchased the ingredients to do the DIY formula (not the food grade items though) but never got around to it. I switched to OA and the HBHealthy ingredients, plus a bottle of Mann Lakes version, along with the Formic acid is still on the shelf!

 

[crofter]

https://docplayer.net/14544077-James-w-amrine-jr-1-and-robert-noel-2.html

Here is a link to experiment that touted the benefits of honey B healthy as an addition to formic acid. My suspicious mind says that it is the addition of 15% hbh reduced the effective concentration of formic acid. I have read other places that 45 - 50% is safer than the normal 65%.

New Directions Aromatics is a good supplier both US and Can. online sites. It was fun but a small bottle from Mann lake is cheaper. You only need a few drops (if any)

If it was so effective everyone would be including it in a formic acid based miticides and their pollen subs: Get your patent on it before the word gets out!