Varroa back story

In 1965 widespread varroa infestation of A. melli/era colonies in western USSR was reported, with as many as 5,000 mites per colony and up to 70% of the brood infested. By 1967, varroa was reported frbm Bulgaria, apparently imported with queens from the Balkans. In 1971 varroa damage to colonies of Apis mellifera was recognized outside of Asia, and by 1975 had spread to eastern and western Europe, northern Africa, and much of South America. Japanese beekeepers moved A. melli/era bees into Paraguay in 1971, marking the entry of varroa into South America

The thoroughness with which this mite covers an area is shown by a Brazilian survey in which 520 colonies selected from 26 apiaries representing most of Sao Paulo State were all found to be infested, although a little over a year before the survey, the mite had not yet been reported from that country. As was the case in nearly every country,the mite was not discovered until long after the possibility of eradication through bee colony destruction had passed.

Since 1974, research on chemical controls has been done at 22 institutes in the USSR with over 100 chemicals tested. In 1979 formic acid was used as a fumigant, and 1638 colonies had the mites. Each chemical at the time was supposed to be the most thorough control available, yet the number of infested colonies increased each year.

Formic acid is somewhat dangerous to use as it is very caustic and can cause severe burns to skin and eyes. It is difficult to regulate the dose, since it is applied as a fumigant from a wick in a bottle placed in the hive, and there is some danger of bee mortality or absconding if the bottle is tipped over and the acid evaporates too quickly. Formic acid also absorbs strongly into honey, so any honey in the hive cannot be used for human consumption.

DE JONG, MORSE & EICKWORT.  HONEY BEE MITES Annu. Rev. Entomol. 1982.27:229-252.

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html