> it may be that the temperature inside
>>the cluster is sufficiently high to either kill or at least make the
varroa
>>uncomfortable and fall off
>
>Has anyone tested for temperature inside the hive as a possible prevention?


The Beekeeper's Quarterly, Spring 1994 contained a description of a heat
treatment method used by Stanislav Muhtarov of Uzbekistan to control varroa.
The bees (except for the queen) were shaken from the frames into a mesh
drum, sized so that the bees are unable to escape but varroa can pass
through the holes. The drum is placed in a heated cabinet controlled at 48
C., and turned to prevent the bees from clustering. The cylinder remains in
the cabinet until the mites no longer fall, usually 8-10 minutes. After
treatment the drum is placed in a sheltered spot until the bees settle
before being returned to the hive.
The Beekeepers Quarterly is published by Northern Bee Books e-mail
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John Burgess, Editor Gwenynwyr Cymru/The Welsh Beekeeper
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If you don't change direction, you'll end up where you're going