Which of the following is an effective treatment for tracheal mites?

Using grease patties is an effective treatment for tracheal mites. Grease patties contain a mixture of grease—often vegetable oil or shortening—and sugar, which is placed on top of the frames in a beehive. The greasing creates a sticky surface that traps the mites when they try to crawl through, significantly reducing their population within the hive. This method also provides bees with a supplemental food source during periods when natural nectar is scarce.

While other methods like applying powdered sugar or utilizing essential oils can offer some benefits in controlling mite populations, they are not specifically designed for tracheal mites. Powdered sugar can help with Varroa mites by encouraging bees to groom themselves and dislodge mites, but its effect on tracheal mites is limited. Essential oils may have some repellent or detrimental effects on various pests, but they generally do not target tracheal mites as effectively as grease patties do. Increasing hive ventilation can contribute to general bee health but does not directly mitigate the effects of tracheal mites or target them specifically.