> >What method of mite control do you use and recommend? For how long? > >Sincerely, >Bob Harrison > I believe taking data and understanding the mite load is more important then the actual method of control. If you can't describe or understand the problem how can you effectively provide a solution? Why through Checkmite year after year at a yard with a low mite count? I also run a medium sized apple orchard and IPM methods are old news in that circle. We rarely apply any chems without spore counts (scab) or insect trap data. Using sticky boards and ether rolls I treat each yard seperately. Some years I do not need to treat at all. (All my hives are wintered here in central and southern Mn). Overall I would say 1 out 3 years I have been able to not treat at all. Some yards appear to be consistently low in mite count and I can go 2 years, seems weather related too. I used apistan when I can and have occaisionly used checkmite with high counts and wanting a rotation with apistan. This season we have very low mite counts and I will use formic acid or apivar in the few yards with higher counts I'd like to move into the russian line of bees . We run new world canriolan's predominately and have some bee-weaver allstars too. I much favor the carniolan for our norhern climate and they have provided better honey production too. Plus as I mentioned the Italians seem much more prone to lay drone and worker brood in extracting supers. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::