"If there is poor brood survival on an old dark comb, I'd certainly rotate it out."

Smart advice.

On the topic of amitraz....thank you to all who responded to my question, it was most helpful and appreciated.

But...I still wonder.  Since brood cappings are nothing like honey cappings in terms of porosity or composition, what is the relevant consideration regarding hydrophobic miticides?  Medhat says it's true that amitraz penetrates wax.  James points out that any hydrophobic miticide will filter into wax.  Randy says that amitraz does not penetrate (I'm assuming) brood cappings.  Since brood cappings are both porous and proteinaceous, and since they are unlike other wax in the hive, how do they compare to generic "wax" referenced in the literature?

I guess my question really is:  How does anyone separate the special circumstance of "brood capping" from all the other types of wax product in the hive?  Or do they?  The literature I've seen isn't clear on that.

Christina

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