Andreas,
 
    Indeed, the price of Apistan seems very high particularly in some other
    countries (ie. other than Canada which  appears among the cheapest).  I
    am not privy to the methods used by pharmaceuticals to set prices and
    why these prices can differ greatly between countries, but lets not
    forget they are in business to make a profit.  And of course, they wish
    to realize this profit as quickly as possible, especially with the
    prospect that their product may decline in efficacy over the next few
    years.
 
    I agree that it is most frustrating to have access to a different
    formulation of the same active ingredient (fluvalinate) at a fraction of
    the cost compared to the strip formulation.   It is this enormous price
    difference that has tempted beekeepers to cook up their own recipes by
    dipping porous substrates in the diluted liquid fluvalinate formulation
    (Mavrik) and apply it to the bees.   It is exactly this practise, all
    beekeepers should be worried about.
 
    The big problem with those 'home-made recipes' is that there is very
    little or no control (or knowledge, for that matter) about the delivery
    of appropriate dosage, rate of release, contamination, etc, etc.  It is
    likely that those applications involve a high release of fluvalinate
    initially, followed by a prolonged period of declining release.
    Eventhough most of the adult mite population may have been wiped out
    initially, emerging mites at a later date together with the influx of
    adult mites from other apiaries, will be in the colony during the period
    of low fluvalinate release.   Such sub-lethal environment will greatly
    stimulate the development of fluvalinate resistant strains.   It is
    believed that the apistan-resistant varroa mites in Italy came about
    because of the widespread applications of those unauthorised
    formulations.
 
    Likewise, many beekeepers (especially commercial producers who have to
    look at labor costs) have gotten into the habit of putting in a Apistan
    strip in the fall and leave it in until spring.  Colonies (and mites)
    are exposed to fluvalinate for at least 7 months and longer.   Again, a
    practise asking for trouble!
 
    The big concern is that  fluvalinate will become useless as an effective
    varroa control agent mush faster than necessary.  So far, it has been a
    very effective, safe product to use.  Without this tool, here in Canada
    we would only  have formic acid left.  Although we are making progress
    in developing more user-friendly, slow release formic acid application
    methods, it will be much harder for beekeepers to protect their beloved
    livestock from Varroa by only using formic acid.
 
    So, don't be tempted!  Apply Apistan strips only when necessary (ie.
    after you tested for mites to determine infestation levels), and apply
    for the recommended time according to label and remove afterwards!
 
 
    Paul van Westendorp                         [log in to unmask]
    Provincial Apiarist
    British Columbia