On Aug 31, 2013, at 9:50 AM, randy oliver <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>> My impression is that Apivar (Amitraz) is a safer chemical than Apistan
> (fluvalinate-tau) for bees, beekeeper and hive products, but I don't have
> any conclusive data on this.  Maybe our researchers can comment.

Considering the fact that varroa quickly becomes resistant to amitraz, and considering it has been used for 30 years, I would steer clear of it.

> To keep the infestation at an acceptable level in autumn of 1985, all colonies were treated twice with Varamit®, an acaricide product containing amitraz.

Additionally, the re-influx of mites has to been understood:

> Mite infestation levels were generally low until the middle of July 1985. Subsequently, and sometimes as late as the middle of September, most colonies experienced a very rapid increase in the mite population. 

-- Jovan M. Kulincevic and Thomas E. Rinderer
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