The Peppermint Experiment Phase 1 Combating Small Hive Beetles - Peppermint Pollen Patties

This is a beekeeping video with the intention of using peppermint to help combat Small Hive Beetle infestation using Peppermint.
This video specifically shows the process I am using to created the pollen pattties.
@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog @628DirtRooster @CastleHives @BlackMountainHoney @kamonreynolds @brucesbees @bobbinnie9872 @JeffHorchoff @NaturesImageFarmGregBurns @MikeBarryBees

[@DooleyBFR]

Im hooked!!! I love this!!!! Cant wait for more!!!! awesome brother!!! God Bless!!!

[@Peter_Gunn]

I am so glad you are trying that out. Can't wait to see the results. Thanks for sharing.

[@WalkerBeeRanch]

thank you!

[@TexasBeekeeper]

That's a great idea Bob. Interested to see how it does! Thanks for sharing!

[@KajunHomestead]

I saw a video where a guy uses spearmint mix with Crisco grease and puts a dab in all four corners of the hive and he swears it keeps all beetles out. I think his channel in Honyok Bees.

[@PreppingAngel]

My son uses 2 tbsp Wintergreen oil, 2 Tbsp, spearmint oil and 1 Tbsp of Tea Tree oil in about 3 cups of water and stores it in the fridge in an old whisky bottle. He first emulsifies it in the blender that is just for mixing bees items. He then shakes before use and adds 2 tsp per 3 gallon range feeder and 1 Tbsp per 5 gallon feeder. We have zero hive beetles. I imagine it may work on pollen patties too. Going to try it with them next mixing. The funny honey doesn't smell or taste like mints. We got the recipe from Dirt Roosters channel a while back. I am in the exact same area as Kaman. The other side of the county and we aren't having any trouble with mites or hive beetles. idk why. The last alcohol check had no mites and every check before that. Maybe we are just lucky until they find the hives. lol (Zero treatments too) Dirt Rooster did add Soy Lecithin tho. I haven't ordered any yet.

[@628DirtRooster]

Like the taste test. Looking forward to seeing the results.

[@WalkerBeeRanch]

Thanks 👍

[@CastleHives]

I'll be waiting to see the results. I'm adding the candy to my hives either tomorrow or the next day.

[@TheRainHarvester]

Did it work?

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

Should be a good experiment 👍 thanks

[@WalkerBeeRanch]

Hope so!

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

@@WalkerBeeRanch I will be following along. Thanks 👍

[@TimeIsHoney]

@@WalkerBeeRanch I think you’re spot on with the measurement :) a little is a lot

[@lpriddy2929]

Thanks to Earl, now I know how much how often, as soon as the mail runs, I’m going to put mints in my hive with a little feed.... I really don’t want to feed, but flow is ending here in middle TN and I converted nucs to layens and I want those conversion frames out of the hive . If I feed them and give them frames to build out, maybe I can accomplish that before last fall inspection. Will more than likely add a tad of peppermint EO to the feed as well. Will be glad when I can just inspect and not be tearing their house up.

[@DRIECUTHoney]

I didn’t see any hive beetles today. Kinda strange. I was only in my strongest colonies stealing brood frames. I bet the smaller hives have some. I did see some last week

[@1whatever100]

Nice experiment, I think it will work, I just ordered a pint of peppermint. Your demo race split looks interesting .. Keep up the good work 😀👍

[@TheRainHarvester]

Did it work?

[@user-xg9ot3vl3y]

So is there a follow-up, how did it work out

[@carlsledge3868]

Hey DirtRooster, I watched you stroogle to clean out the liquid honey after the old camper removal, here a trick I figured out when beetles got one my deeps and it was full of beetles and larva. I put the whole deep full honey and beetles in my bees outside chest freezer, about 2 qts of honey leaked in bottom of the freezer alone with dead beetles and larva, I thought what freakin mess, so I made a contraption using a 1/2 gal. glass jar and plastic mayo lid you just drill 2 holes in lid just under 1/4" then use 1/4" OD .177" ID water supply for fridg ice maker line in both holes cut long enough reach you vac for suction, the other cut the end on 45 degree and long eough to be your wand, sucks up the honey super fast and leaves the bees and other junk behind, just stick the suction inside the wand on your vac duck tape around to seal it, you'll love

[@randalljames1]

lol... a little peppermint goes a LONG LONG LONG ways.. use your nose and you will find about an ounce should cover a pound or more hahahahah

[@cornerstonehoneybees2525]

Have you tried having your hives in a DRY location, with lots of sun, and keeping the hive at a minimum of 70% full (meaning 7 of the 10 frames are ALWAYS *completely* covered in bees)? Start by looking at the actual biology of the small hive beetle. The love damp, moist environments - in fact, their larva DEPEND on it to pupate. So having ground under the hives where the larva cannot pupate stops their lifecycle. The 2nd key is bee population - it takes a volume of bees to guard the insides of their home. The more bees, the better than can guard their home. If you have enough bees in the hive, the beetles cannot lay eggs - thus you'll never have a slimed hive. In 10 years, I have *never* had an issue with small hive beetles. And I never use traps, pads, or fake solutions like peppermints. I'll be up to 75 hives this year. I live in eastern Texas - where we have lots of humidity (like you do in S. Carolina).

[@sourwoodbranchbeefarm6515]

You need to emulsify the peppermint in some water in a blender then put it in the syrup. Otherwise it won't mix together. See how the oils are floating to the top?

[@WalkerBeeRanch]

yes. works really well in pollen patties

[@badassbees3680]

UK beekeepers been doing it for years,some that's their only control for shb and even claim varroa viruses reduced and only treatment period is peppermint, I tried years ago but didn't see enough to bother with

[@WalkerBeeRanch]

Thank you for your comments!

[@charlestrotter9588]

I live in Greenville SC would like to meet you sometime

[@WalkerBeeRanch]

I would like that!

[@BugFarmerBees]

I hope it works!

[@WalkerBeeRanch]

I appreciate the comment! from another Veteran

[@Mz.Stephanie]

Did the peppermint deter the bees from eating the pollen patty?

[@WalkerBeeRanch]

yes maam

[@claythomas7982]

Didn't learn a darn thing from this video. Sound and identification of ingredients was garbled, no clear articulation.

[@WalkerBeeRanch]

I just re watched it sound work perfectly here, not sure what happened for you.