Hi Peter & All

Canada closed the border to importation of live bees in the mid-1980s because of trachea mites but we got both them and varroa in spite of the closure. I have never seen a varroa mite on a bee when inspecting a hive probably because I’m not looking for them and they are pretty small.  One of the indications of varroa infestation we were told about back then was bees with deformed wings.  I had never seen bees with deformed wings before (again not looking for them), but once I started looking, there were many.  Another trick at that time was to put some tobacco in the smoker and smoke the bees with a sticky board installed.  No problem seeing varroa on the sticky board after an hour or so.  Hundreds of them!

Whatever you do to keep varroa out of Newfoundland & Labrador is worth the effort in my opinion!!!

Bob Darrell
Caledon Ontario
Canada
44N80W(flying over Newfoundland Wednesday afternoon on our way home from Ireland

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