Peter Edwards said: >I now find that with my thymol (only) treatment
(details on the website),
> varroa levels are so low that there seems little point in monitoring.<

It is becoming clearer from this list that experience depends on whether u
keep bees close to other beekeepers and feral colonies or are isolated.  In
my area, monitoring of all hives shows that one single hive can suddenly
leap in Varooa, due I imagine to robbing an infested colony.  If missed,
that colony then spreads the mite.  Regular treatment with a suppressant
such as thymol cannot cope with a sudden surge.  Move your bees u may say.
Unfortuneately, this is a good area for forage which is why the other bees
are here.   I suspect this random sudden rise in infestation level in single
colonies may be common - but does anyone else think so?

Robin Dartington

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and  other info ---
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::