My yard has a number of fruit trees that are being used by the State of
Calif for posting fruit fluy traps. One trap is in an orange tree and the
other is in an apricot tree.
 
The State Inspector just came by to inspect the traps.  Verdict:  Negative
for Mediterranean Fruit Fly.  She mentioned that MedFly infestation is
being controlled by STERILIZATION.   She also said that sterilized medflys
have been found in SB County, presumably coming up from LA on people
transported food.
 
We got talking about the different insect pest problems that the State of
Calif is monitoring.  There are 5 of which the MedFly has the main
attention.  Naturally I brought up the topic of Bees and their pests -
Varroa and Afro-Beetle.
 
My question: Has STERILIZATION been tried on Varroa or Afro-Beetle as a
means of control??
 
I could just see myself buying a small vial of sterilized mites and
dropping them into my hives to mate with the indigenous group.
 
 
 
 
Paul Cronshaw, D.C.
Hobbyist Beekeeper
Santa Barbara, CA  USA