> ... rotating the treatments to reduce the chances of
> resistant mites? For example, spring treatment with Check-Mite and fall
> treatment with Apistan?

In New York state it is recommended that you only use Coumophos if you
have determined that your varroa mites are resistent to Apistan.  That means,
you treat with Apistan, do a post treatment test to see if varroa remain
(remember Apistan should knock down 98% of the mites).  Only if you have post
treatment varroa mites should you resort to Coumophos.

I fear coumophos will be a real disaster for the beekeeping industry.  It's far
nastier than Apistan but I doubt beekeepers will handle it as such.  I suspect
it will be used with a cavalier attitude with little regard for the warnings on
the label.  I fear beekeepers will be lax about treatment times, "Do I really
have to take the strips out in late fall, can't I leave them in all winter?".
I'm sure there will be honey contamination and most disconcertingly, there will
be beekeeper contamination.  "Yeah, I read where it said use thick nitrile
rubber gloves when I handle the stuff but I didn't think they meant it.  Now I
wonder why my fingers are always numb?"

And when the media picks up on the large quantities of contaminated honey we
won't be able to give it away!  Remember apples and alar?  The good news is
there is a 0% tolerance for coumophos in honey.  Once detected FDA says it'll
yank the approvals.  Frankly, I don't understand why the industry has even
opened this pandoras box.  Because it's here now and our bees are dieing!?  I
fear it will be a case where the cure kills the patient, or the treatment kills
the industry.

Aaron Morris - thinking coumophos?  Not in my hives!