Apiguard came on to the market in the UK last summer and is being registered
in most EU Member States and several other countries now, hopefully for next
summer. Most of the trials (over the past 5 years) have been conducted by
beekeepers and bee institutes/Universities in Europe, especially in Italy,
France and Switzerland, areas of substantial pyrethroid resistance.

Average results are 90%+ (varroa and trachael mite) but there is some
variation with temperature (more variable when external median temperature
is less than 15 C).

Widescale tests by beekeeping organisations in France and Italy this year
gave good results in some 6000 colonies. Trials in the UK {independent
beekeepers} and Jersey {Ministry of Agriculture} went very well too.

However, this product is NOT going to be, and was not intended to be another
Apistan. Control levels of  98-99% are not expected  [although we have seen
this many times with Apiguard] but the product is designed to be one tool in
an integrated approach to mite control. A secondary treatment later/earlier
in the season should be performed, just in case - eg drone brood trapping,
use of formic acid etc.

Max


Dr Max Watkins

Vita (Europe) Limited                           Tel     44 (0) 1256 473177
Brook House, Alençon Link,                      Fax     44 (0) 1256 473179
Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 7RD, UK

http://www.vita.demon.co.uk