Experiment on Varroa Mite Treatment Using Thymol-1

Date: July 15, 2024

Temperature: 24°C

Weather: Light Rain

Objective

The objective of this experiment is to determine the effects of thymol on bees and its efficacy in treating varroa mites.

Methodology

We prepared 10 pieces of Wettex and 10 pieces of cardboard infused with thymol and placed them inside the beehives. The preparation process involved determining the appropriate amount of ethanol to mix with thymol.

Preparation of Thymol Cloth

1. Mix 60g of thymol with 10g of ethanol and heat until fully dissolved.
2. Place the mixture into a bag along with 10 pieces of Wettex.
3. The mixture was well integrated and did not recrystallize the next day, indicating a stable mixture.

Preparation of Thymol Cardboard

Cardboard Method ①:

1. Mix 60g of thymol with 10g of ethanol and heat until fully dissolved.
2. Place the mixture into a bag along with 10 pieces of cardboard.
3. The next day, the mixture had recrystallized, resulting in an uneven product.

Cardboard Method ②:

1. Heat 60g of thymol until it melts.
2. Add 3g of ethanol to the melted thymol and mix thoroughly.
3. Place the mixture into a bag along with 10 pieces of cardboard.
4. After 10 minutes, recrystallization occurred, but the product was more uniform compared to Cardboard Method ①.

Application

Each of the prepared items (Wettex and cardboard) was placed inside the beehives as follows:

• Two pieces of Wettex and two pieces of cardboard in three hives each.
• One piece of Wettex and one piece of cardboard in four hives each.

Initial Observations

After 30 minutes of placing the thymol-treated materials in the hives, no abnormal behavior was observed in the bees. Continuous monitoring will be conducted to assess the long-term effects on bee health and varroa mite infestation levels.

Future Updates

Further observations and detailed analysis of the results will be provided in subsequent updates. This experiment aims to contribute to the ongoing research and development of effective varroa mite treatments that are safe for bees.