More interesting work done by a PhD candidate (University of Delaware)

Colony decline is not linked to one factor, but evidence shows that the varroa mite, 
Varroa destructor, is one of the primary causes behind the decline. The apiary
community has explored a variety of pest management practices to reduce varroa
mite infestations, but few practices have yielded long term success as stand-alone
treatments. 

We conducted a study to test the efficacy that splitting a colony into
two (parent colony and daughter colony) will have on varroa mite reductions and
the long term survival of a colony. Our results showed that the timing of a split
during the season, early summer through fall, is critical to long term reductions in
varroa mites and increased colony survival.

Our results support international research that has shown that swarming
colonies have successfully developed a balanced varroa-bee relationship (Seeley
2007). Splitting of a colony does affect varroa mite populations as predicted by
our hypothesis; however, timing of the split is critical.

Based upon data collected from 2012 and 2013, a citizen science field study was
launched in summer 2014 to test the managerial efficacy of splitting colonies
among hobbyist and small scale beekeepers including the costs and time required
to split a colony.

Evans, Kathleen Ciola. Evaluation of early summer splits on varroa mite reduction and colony productivity. Diss. UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE, 2015.

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