REGARDING           RE>Captured Swarm
 
Charles (Rick) Grubbs writes, in response to the earlier response by Ted
Fischer:
"> However, I would like to comment that this swarm came from a known feral
> colony, so obviously the parent colony got through the winter without mite
> control measures.  I would watch this new colony carefully - it may show
signs
> of varroa resistance, and be a valuable resource for you.  Watch the feral
> colony, too, to see whether it will survive the year intact.
 
Would you suggest not treating this hive with Apistan?"
 
This is kind of a hard call.  If you have other hives, my thought would be to
keep this one as an experimental colony, and withhold the Apistan.  Let me
paste here a call for volunteers in a mite resistance study:
 
"The USDA-ARS Bee Breeding Genetics and Physiology Laboratory is looking for
honey bees
resistant to Varroa mites. Honey bees that have survived for more than a year
without being treated
and/or those in abandoned hives are ideal candidates. If you have knowledge of
candidate queens,
then do yourself and the industry a favor by contacting the Lab, 1157 Ben Hur
Rd., Baton Rouge,
LA 70820-5502, ph 504/767-9280, FAX 504/766-9212, email:
[log in to unmask] "
 
You may want to cont act this lab for their advice.
 
Ted Fischer