On Wed, 9 Feb 2000 07:55:19 -0700, Allen Dick <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >Forwarded From: [log in to unmask] >Author: docbull >Subject: NEW VARROA MITE FIELD TEST It's while since I forwarded this message to the list. Since then there have been a few posts on the topic, some wondering about the details, some clarifying them. I thought that I had previously posted the reference URLs, but an interesting wild-goose-chase style archive search proved otherwise. (But turned up lots of other unrelated fascinating stuff I'd forgotten about). Anyhow, I'll belatedly post the links here: http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~mts/apishtm/apis_2000/apfeb_2000.htm#2 and http://ianrwww.unl.edu/ianr/entomol/beekpg/tidings/btid2000/btdjan00.htm#Art icle2 (watch for word-wrap on that last one) The reason I am writing today is that I have now tried the method and want to compare notes with others who have done so. I realise it is still early for ideal results, since most of the mites are still in the large amount of brood in those of my hives which have queens <g>, but we thought we would get an idea if there is a problem developing. What we find amazing is that we have sampled about fifteen yards so far and not found one mite. We know we have varroa. Where is it? We are using a wide-mouth mason jar with 8-mesh harware cloth and that seems to work well, but I think we have been using too much icing sugar. Also, instead of using a second jar with a finer mesh to separate the sugar and the mites, we have been dissolving the sugar in water and putting it through a coffee filter or pouring it on a white cotton rag, then examining the debris that remains. * What have others discovered? * Has anyone tried this method and also a 24-hour Apistan drop on the same hive? * What is the correlation? * How much sugar is optimal? * What is the best way to separate the the mites and the sugar? allen --- Visit my daily (mostly beekeeping) diary: http://www.internode.net/HoneyBee/Diary/