> I was told that the reason Apistan is used, even in "resistant" hives,
> is it does give good mite drop, albeit they may still be alive.
<snip>
> So you can get good mite drop with Apistan even with Apistan/Checkmite
> resistant mites.

If that is true, it would explain why Apistan treatment in early spring, in
double hives with top entrances, in Alberta, with one strip, seems to work
so much better than fall treatment.with multiple strips, and why resistance
has not been encountered using this method.  I understand that, even in the
absence of resistance, Apistan tends to drop plenty of live mites. (Is this
true?  I wouln't know, since the mites I see are drowned quickly in the oil
on the sticky board)

In Spring, the cluster is in the top box -- the bottom box is clear of
bees -- and falling mites tend to drop away from the cluster to the distant
floor and -- if still alive -- perish there.  When treated in Fall, when
bees are on the floor constantly, any mites dropping to the floor, even a
mesh one, have a good opportunity to re-attach to a bee.

I have been surprised by how much more efficious and cheaper the Spring
treatment has proven over the past few years in our operation, when compared
to the Fall, multiple strip, method.

allen
http://www.honeybeeworld.com/diary/

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