Hello All,
I am new to using this "Bee-L" network so forgive me if I am addressing
something that has already been beaten into the dirt. I am sure you know of
the Weavers in Texas. I went out and visited them a few years back and have
been ordering queens form them now for a few years. When they claim they
havent treated in 3+ years,. I flat believe them.
I have recently read about others who have  breeding successfully against
varroa (Purvis?), and as for me , i have a queen who for three years has not
had any type of treatment WHATSOEVER and shows no sign of any varroa
infestation(less than 5%). I hope she makes it through the winter so I might
do more grafting off of her.
What is odd about this is that I had selected her as a breeding queen
because of the high honey production,extreme gentleness,and low propolis or
burr comb(non existent)...It was only on a lark so to speak that I didnt
treat her hive..and as mite levels continued to be low(less than 5% brood
infestation at any time of year) I continued not to treat. I plan on placing
her progeny in a yard culled of "high count varroa hives"and saturated with
some untreated Weaver hives to see where it goes from here.
Isnt it exciting to think along the line of  beekeping practices that
require little or no treatment for varroa?My hope and desire is that that
will be the case on a widespread basis in the not so distant future.
Best wishes and God bless you
John Horton

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