Rearding the above request - as P. Velduis indicated in a previous posting
the first discovery of Varroa in Manitoba was made at the U.S. border as a
result of a swarm trap monitoring program  conducted by the Manitoba
Department of Agriculture.  This happened in 1991.  Follow up sampling found
additional beekeepers in the area with low level infestations of Varroa.
Initially some colonies were killed with compensation and in 1993 in a cost
shared program with Sandoz Corp. treated a total of 10,000 colonies in the
area  with Apistan.
 
Although these actions ( and others) have undoubtly slowed down the spread
of Varroa in Manitoba, Varroa has now been found in 4 geographical areas in
Manitoba and it is recommended that all commercial beekeepers in Manitoba
introduce a monitoring program to ensure the early detection of Varroa in
their operations.
 
Also, Dr. R. Currie (University of Manitoba) completed a 3 year Varroa
contol research project under Manitoba conditions in 1995.  This project has
provided important information on the biology of Varroa under our climactic
and management conditions and appropriate control strategies using
fluvalinate, formic acid and cultural controls.
 
Don Dixon
Manitoba Agriculture
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