We have also seen lots of live varroa below screens in hives treated
   with Apistan. If the mites are gathered up and put in a jar, they will
   live for a few days.. It would be interesting to compare their life
   expectancy, with that of mites which hadn't been treated.
 
   The Apistan company rep says that is a normal part of the action of
   Apistan: some of the mites are dislodged and fall to the bottom board,
   but survive. If no screen is present, they climb aboard the next passing
   bee and are carried back to the cluster where they are hit with another
   exposure to fluvalinate. So it goes until they don't get up.
 
    This seems reasonable enough. Some mites may escape if they bee leaves
   the hive and moves to an untreated hive, but an immediate death is not
   necessary for an effective treatment.
 
 
   Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist
   B.C. Ministry of Agriculture
   1201 103 Ave
   Dawson Creek B.C.
        V1G 4J2  CANADA          Tel (604) 784-2225     fax (604) 784-2299
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