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Thymol is one of the alternative treatments in late Summer, or even in Spring according to the temperatures of the year or area. European beekeepers use thymol for several years, having three different registered treatments. For having best results by using thymol, some background knowledge is useful.
Like formic acid, thymol acts by its vapors. The bees distribute them in the hive by their activity, like ventilation or removal of the product. In addition, the external temperature is important: the efficacy is highest when the temperature ranges between 15-30°C (5986°F) and never falls under 12°C (54°F). The ideal range for thymol treatments is 20-25°C (68-77°F). The most widely used and popular products all over Europe with thymol as a main ingredient are: Apiguard, ApiLifeVar and Thymovar. However, these products are not exactly the same: Apiguard is a gel with thymol, while the other two products are strips saturated with it. ApiLifeVar is a blend of thymol with eucalyptol, menthol and camphor, while Apiguard and Thymovar rely on pure thymol.
Comparison of the three products under different environmental conditions
Not many studies are available comparing the three products by means of their efficacy under different environmental conditions. The bee institute in Liebefeld (Switzerland) compared Thymovar and ApiLifeVar, finding high and similar efficacy for both products (around 90%).
A first extensive comparison of all three products was made in Italy: the scientists performed a study at three different locations in Northern, Central and Southern Italy. In the Centre and the South, all three products showed high efficacy, killing more than 90% of the Varroa mites in the colonies. In the North, however, Apiguard was less reliable. The efficacy dropped to 66.9%, which is insufficient for protecting bee colonies until the Winter treatment. The researchers attributed...