The varroa population in a colony increases at predictable rates over the
course of a season, dependent upon the degree of resistance of the bee
stock used.  Miticide applications kill a predictable proportion of the
mites in a hive.  Thus a successful varroa management strategy is all about
using arithmetic to figure out which treatment options and timings will
keep the mite infestation rates from climbing above a low level.

Scale of operation has nothing to do with the above.  Windows of
opportunity for treatment applications may be constrained by local
conditions or a beekeeper's business model.  But no operation would require
"constant" treatment to keep varroa in check, provided that efficacious
treatments were properly applied.

Most of the big guys are, or have been, 100% dependent upon amitraz for
many years.  But as amitraz begins to fail, a number of them are very
interested in using more sustainable alternatives, such as formic, oxalic,
and thymol.

One thing that gets them interested, is that my sons, who don't use
synthetic miticides at all, are able to sell them bulk bees (as they did
last week).

JK brought up a great suggestion -- if I were purchasing package bees, I'd
oxalic dribble each package sometime within the first nine days after
installation into a (broodless) hive.

Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
530 277 4450
ScientificBeekeeping.com

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