Hello,
I was wondering when we would see some posts on this product.  My method of
mite control for the past few years has been Apistan in the fall and mineral
oil in the spring and sporadically throughout the season.  I don't know how
well the mineral oil works, and I don't want to start that debate all over
again.  I simply use is as an alternative hopefully taking out any mites
that may be developing resistance.  Maybe it helps maybe not.

Based on what I have been hearing in my neck of the woods beekeepers will be
using coumophos heavily this year.  The prevailing logic is to hit every
colony and then start again next year with a clean slate for apistan.  Other
reasons are "this probably won't be around for long, I better use it now".
Based on what I was seeing and what our state chief apiarist reported,
resistance to Apistan is not widespread.  Yet, in speaking with two
commercial beekeepers in the area, they plan on treating with coumophos.
They seem to suspect that they have resistant mites. I don't know if they
actually checked for resistance.  There is also the added expense.  They
feel if they use Apistan and have resistance then they have to re-treat with
coumophos, thus doubling the cost of treatment.  They seem to be opting for
the shotgun approach.  Although I didn't agree with them, I was starting to
think maybe what they were saying made sense. But as usual Aaron came in
with a nice reality check and I definitely have to agree with him.  This
product should not be taken lightly.  Possibly we will have to use it if
resistance shows up, but it should be done on an as needed, rather than a
wide spread, basis.

Aaron mentioned the "apple/alar scare".  That was a well orchestrated
campaign that didn't just accidentally happen.  The apple industry was
targeted because of what it represented; "Mom, America, Apple Pie". It put a
number of apple growers out of business permanently.  The surgeon general
had to appear on television eating an apple in order to convince the public
apples were safe.  I have people tell me they will not eat honey because of
botulism.  It doesn't take much to scare them away.  Coumophos could become
a necessary evil that we will have to accept, but I don't think we are close
to that point yet.

Ron Bogansky
Kutztown, (eastern) PA, USA