There was some discussion in the list a while back about sugar dusting. As
I recall (but I may be in need of correction), powdered sugar was dusted
over the top of the frames to cause the mites to lose their grip on the
bees and drop. I don't recall any statistical studies but would love to
hear if this technique has been studied as a periodic treatment in
combination with the open mesh floors. Dusting twice a year wouldn't
involve much more work than Apistan installation and removal, but is it
effective? It would certainly change the equation--and the study results, I
would think--if we could force mite drop through the mesh.

Mark Payton