Let's start a movement.  Everyone who buys queens, please call or write your
supplier and ask:
1.) What measures are you taking to ensure your stock is tracheal mite
tolerant?
2.) How hygienic are your bees?  How do you know?
3.) Are you taking measures to increase varroa tolerance in your bees?
What measures?  How much have you been able to reduce chemical applications
over the past five years?


I will love to have a benchmark for the later: reduce chemical applications
... or how much is enough?

for example:

Varroa / TM
Over the Top: more than 4 times a year/season
High: over 3 per year/season
Enough: under 2 (spring and autum) p y/s
Low: up to 2 , one "organic" (formic, thymol, oxalic, etc) p y/s
Succesfull: 2 or less p y/s, both organic.
Excellent:  up to 1 (spring) p y/s, organic.
Amazing: No treatment for more than 5 years/seasons!!

Nosema
High: Uses fumagilin once per year to all colonies and to starters
Enough: only to starters.
Amazing: No fumagilin for 5 years, and no spores found.

-- 
Juanse Barros J.
APIZUR S.A.
Carrera 695
Gorbea - CHILE
+56-45-271693
08-3613310
http://apiaraucania.blogspot.com/
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