Fecha de publicación: 01/07/2003 Fuente: WIPO "apiculture" A beeswax mimetic substance is described which comprises or consists essentially of a synthetic or semisynthetic wax, in particular a microcrystalline wax. The wax preferably has a relatively narrow range of mean carbon chain length. An apiculture accessory using the wax and a method of operating beehives using the wax to reduce disease and pests in beehives is described.