It is clear from letters on the bee list and my own observations in the UK
that many beekeepers are still not taking the threat of Varroa seriously.
In consequence they have lost, or are losing most of their bees.  Varroa is
new only to Apis mellifera.  When discovered nearly one hundred years ago it
was living in harmony with its host, the eastern bee Apis cerana, which had
learnt to control it and limit its capacity to do damage.  When
transportation brought it to our bee it was a case of new pest, new host.
So far it has behaved in a most irrational fashion in that it is killing its
host.  No self-respecting parasite should do this because it is in effect
committing suicide.  No  doubt in time our bees will develop resistance,
grooming, rapid removal from cells, etc.  and the mites will see the folly
of killing off the stock.  That stage is unlikely to be reached in the
lifetime of our youngest beekeeper. Whilst we wait for this to happen Varroa
will continue to destroy our stocks, directly or indirectly and we must
limit the damage by all means possible, chemical and physical.
The days of let-alone beekeeping are over.  Either we manage them
effectively or we lose them.  The extra work involved is labour intensive
which is hard luck for the commercial man but just a challenge for the
amateur.  At present, depending on location,  we have various chemical
strips, formic acid, lactic acid, talc, drone trapping, queen isolation and
heat treatment with which to fight.  No doubt there are other weapons  being
developed.  In every country in Europe as Varroa arrived the first three or
four years saw horrific losses after which the beekeepers took control  and
the situation eased.  The mite arrived in England in 1992 and is gradually
covering the whole country.  There is no way the advance can be stopped.
No doubt in two or three years time we shall regard it as just another
nuisance to add to our present ills of adult and brood diseases for which,
in spite of endless research, we still await a cure.
_________________________________________________________________
Sid Pullinger                    Email :  [log in to unmask]
36, Grange Rd                Compuserve:  [log in to unmask]
Alresford
Hants SO24 9HF
England