"Peter Edwards" <[log in to unmask] in
message news:<[log in to unmask]>...

I am rather surprised that the latest developments in varroa control do not
seem to have reached this group yet.

Briefly:

Vita (Europe) Ltd announced at the Stoneleigh Convention that they are
introducing Pherovar in November.  This is a pheromone (delivered in a small
plastic plug which is pinned in the hive) which stops varroa entering cells
to breed.  Apparently, they are also working on controlling AFB with a
bacterium which attacks it.

I have also learnt recently that research is underway to control varroa with
pathogenic fungi; apparently other types of mites on crops grown in
glasshouses are well controlled in this way at present and there seems to be
no reason why varroa could not be similarly controlled.

There seems to light at the end of the tunnel!