Hi All
 
As an Irish beekeeper whose country has now fallen victim to the mite, I am
reading up as much as I can on the subject, to better control it in my colonies.
 
I recently came across the following paragraph in varroa Study Notes, and I
was wondering if anyone has come across any information on what at first
sight appears to be a promising research route.?
 
'Kairomone Research.
 
The pheremones of drone brood are being studied in France with the objective
of providing artificial lures to attract the mites and then kill them off.'
(I understand that a kairomone is a pheremone which benefits the receiver of
the message eg the gravid female varroa mite.)
 
 
In Ireland we are now waiting anxiously for the appearance of the mite in
our colonies. I am organising varroa floors for my hives, am actively
uncapping and checking drone brood, and I will carry out Bayvarol tests on
my colonies when the honey has been removed shortly. (Bayvarol is the only
medicament authorised in Ireland). This I believe to be a fairly standard
approach, and I would welcome comments on it.
 
I fear that those beekeepers who ignore varroa, should ponder these lines
from the Ancient Mariner (with thanks to Samuel Taylor Coleridge).
 
             Like one, that on a lonesome road
             Doth walk in fear and dread,
             And having once turned round walks on,
             And turns no more his head;
             Because he knows, a frightful fiend
             Doth close behind him tread.
 
 
Sincerely
 
Tom Barrett
49 South Park
Foxrock
Dublin 18
Ireland
 
e mail [log in to unmask]
Tel + 353 1 289 5269
Fax + 353 1 289 9940
 
Latitude  53 Degrees North
Longitude  6 Degrees West of Greenwich