Brian said:
  Also I'm not aware of any beekeepers in the Upper Midwest in a commercial
or large sideline operation who use them.

All the commercial beekeepers I know use queen excluders. Brood in supers
causes many problems. Emerging brood in the honey house causes problems
keeping help.  Queens are lost when supers are pulled with brood. Brood in
super comb causes dark comb that is attractive to wax moths & small hive
beetle. Some beekeepers say brood comb darkens honey but I am not totally
convinced.

Queen excluders being honey excluders is a farce! Line a window to your
honey house with an excluder and see how fast the bees enter.

Granted in some areas on certain flows excluders can be pulled but most
larger operators have not got time for such things.

Brian said:
 So I guess I never relied much on what the
other guys are doing and go with my own observations and data and published
scientific literature .

Have you tried any of the methods you speak of? I have experience with each
you talked of.. The BEE-L archives are full of information on each method
you said. Use my name and the method for a search. Actually easier than
hashing over old information.

I agree some are a complete waste of time but some have produced some
results. All beekeeping is local. What works in my area and flows may not
work in your area.

What method of mite control do you use and recommend? For how long?

Sincerely,
Bob Harrison

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