On Thu, 25 Sep 2003, Rick Green wrote:

> I finished harvesting and have not seen a single mite! I live in Saratoga
> County of New York State and have decided not to treat for Varroa this fall as a
> result. Anyone else with similiar findings?
>

I don't know, I hardly ever actually see mites in the hive, and only once
have I found mites on drone brood, and I tried the sugar-roll test a
couple of times without finding mites, and the natural mite drop I got
onto sticky boards this summer was in the 0-2 per week range, BUT: When
I put in Apistan strips this fall, I got mite drops of up to 1000 per
week for each hive.

I wouldn't be too confident about whether or not mites were present in
significant quantities, and I've kind of come to the conclusion that
by the time I see *any* mites, the infestation is already dangerously
high.  I'd advise caution.  Maybe leave a few hives untreated, and monitor
carefully to see how they do, but don't go for a wholesale committment
not to treat this fall until you are *sure* they are OK.  Unless, of
course, you've decided to flip a coin as to whether you want to still
be keeping bees next year.

--
Tim Eisele
[log in to unmask]

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