[artic]

Is there any use for rosemary essential oil in beekeeping?

I ordered some essential oils online and the order was a bit fouled up, I got 4 oz rosemary instead of wintergreen, they told me to keep it and they would send the correct thing, however I’m not aware of any real practical use for it. I figured I may be able to use it as a general purpose scent masker, much as some people use peppermint, anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Chef Isaac]

Most essential oils are ok to use with bees. I use wintergreen and cinnamon essential oils in my sugar syrup to help them stay healthy. Same concept as using HBH. Just DO NOT use a lot of oil when adding it to the feed. Trust me... not a good thang!

 

[artic]

I actually got spearmint and lemon grass oil specifically to make a HBH like formula; in fact it is cooling off in the kitchen as I write this. I wanted the wintergreen for the grease patties, but ended up with rosemary instead (and a 4 oz of gingerbread candle/soap fragrance too) by mistake of the shipper.

So soon I will have wintergreen, lemon grass, spearmint and finally the rosemary, which I as of yet have no use for.

 

[Michael Bush]

http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/varroa/oils.htm

I have used wintergreen in the past. I don't use any now except the Lemongrass oil for swarm lure.

 

[AlpineJean]

What is HBH?

 

[Cyndi]

If you can't find a use for Rosemary in the beehive, try Rosemary with some Peppermint for a nice long hot bath after a very long day working the bees...its great for those sore muscles, LOL!!

 

[Michael Bush]

HBH=Honey Bee Healthy

 

[artic]

Cyndi As nice as an idea as that would be, I'm afraid I only have the one hive, and have not yet been able to put in the kind of hours that could excuse such a bath. Though I'll try anyhow.