Tualatin Valley Beekeepers Association

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Essential oil use??

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8 Apr 2020 9:28 AM

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Message # 8887494

Anonymous member

I was reading a random article on beekeeping and the info below was suggested. Can anyone comment? I'm new to beekeeping and there is just so much info out there. The article suggested this as a first defense.

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Finally, in their spring feeds and fall feeds, we add food grade essential oils. Each of these oils are geared toward avoiding infestation and infection. Here’s what we add to each gallon of feed:

4-5 drops of peppermint and spearmint oil – protects the bees by adding the oils to their blood stream, they become unappetizing to mites.
3-4 drops thyme oil – a volatile oil that protects against mites and the bacterial infection American foulbrood.
3-4 drops tea tree oil – protects against fungal infections such as nosema.
2-3 drops lemongrass oil – to avoid infestations such as wax moths and other insects.

Moved from General Bee Topics: 8 Feb 2021 11:37 AM

10 Apr 2020 5:02 AM

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Reply # 8891459 on 8887494

Anonymous member

There are a lot of online discussions involving essential oils for treating honey bees, but there aren't are lot of scientific studies verifying their efficacy. Some oils can actually be quite toxic, depending on the concentration. Honey bees use saps and resins from plants to produce propolis which has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Propolis is used within the hive, but it is not consumed the bees. The question you need to ask is, "Are the bees doing this on their own already?" The answer is no. Introducing oils to their diets may adversely affect the microbial balance in their digestive system (it can do the same in humans). The bees may tolerate the introduction of these essential oils into their diet, but this may cause other problems.