A local beekeeper here in Central Oregon says that Varroa Mites dislike Western Juniper and suggests Juniper shavings or sawdust placed in the quilt box of a Warre hive would help discourage them. Anybody out there ever heard of or tried this theory?
I have heard that Juniper helps with Varroa. I put Juniper needles and sticks in my smoker and it seems like I have less Varroa now, but I haven't done official counts.
I have used every kind of scrap cedar I encountered. I was a carpenter and some of it was cedar siding (I think it was western cedar) and some of it was aromatic (for closets). The wax moths did not seem to mind and when Varroa turned up they did not mind either... I have not used Juniper that I know of (unless someone makes closets out of it...)
We've been pondering offering a juniper product line, being in Oregon and having easy access to this lumber. It's a pain to work with though, as it's full of knots and rarely available in boards wider than 6"...
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