The news on the varroa front in Ireland is bleak, last year colonies in
Sligo and Mayo were found to be infested with the mite.

This year the mite has been discovered on bees in County Carlow some 140
miles from the location of the original discovery.

I understand from the Department of agriculture that the beekeeper concerned
had sent a sample in for monitoring and the mite was detected in this
manner; the beekeeper has said that he did not move bees around but had
collected some swarms from feral stocks.

The only conclusion that can be gleaned from this is that the whole country
is now probably infested.

Ruary Rudd
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