Thymol & Sugar Syrup

[Kilmington]

I've got into the habit of adding Thymol to sugar syrup for autumn feeding after I've taken the honey off (if there was any !!). My question is - is this sufficient as a Varroa control measure or would the more learned of you recommend more or an alternative treatment?

 

[Hivemaker.]

Not sufficient.

 

[Luminos]

I thought thymol added to autumn syrup was for nosema?

 

[Finman]

.

Thymol in syrup has no effect on varroa. It better to say clearly.

.

 

[SixFooter]

The thymol in syrup is just to stop it fermenting

 

[Baggyone]

There is good research that shows thymol in syrup works against nosema. Just do a search on the forum and it makes it a no brainer.

baggy

 

[itma]

The thymol in syrup is just to stop it fermenting

Not entirely.

See for example (2010 publication) http://www.springerlink.com/content/w66r637634t27735/?MUD=MP
60 years ago, Manley was very keen on it as a control for both Acarine and Nosema.

While it should have an anti-varroa effect, it would be 'brave' (Yes Minister, that bad) to rely on it entirely.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Manley was very keen on it as a control for both Acarine and Nosema.

Manley used methyl salicylate in a bottle with a flowing wick as a control for acarine, and thymol for the prevention of mould/fermentation of sugar syrup, but noted after he had been using it for around twelve years that he had very low nosema levels, compared to other beekeepers around who had not been using thymol in their feed and had nosema problems.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Not entirely.

See for example (2010 publication) http://www.springerlink.com/content/w66r637634t27735/?MUD=MP
60 years ago, Manley was very keen on it as a control for both Acarine and Nosema.

While it should have an anti-varroa effect, it would be 'brave' (Yes Minister, that bad) to rely on it entirely.

or http://scialert.net/qredirect.php?doi=pjbs.2005.1142.1145&linkid=pdf