Here's an idea I have been considering:
 
I would like to use a drone trapping method, but the methods I have read
seem to be very time consuming.  I want a method that I can use ocassionally
instead of Apistan.
 
I'm considering this as a late summer, fall treatment.  In my area the bees
plug out in late August and September and brood production decreases.  This
is a time that more varroa should be on bees and less hiding in capped
cells.  I'm proposing establishing one drone egg production colony for every
5 standard colonies.
 
The drone colony would be comprised of mostly drone frames, a good
population of bees, and a young queen.  It would be fed light syrup(if they
will take it) and given pollen substitutes to keep egg laying at a maximum
level.  If the colony is to be kept for any time supplementing it with young
bees would be necessary.
 
Frames of freshly layed eggs would be pulled from the drone colony and given
to each of the standard colonies.  After 7 days these drone frames should be
capped and ready for varroa elimintion.
 
I don't know if a single frame being used one time would be enough to cut
the varroa population.  It may be neccessary to insert a second drone frame
a few days after the first in order to capture a larger percentage of the
varroa.
 
I am very interested in fully developing this idea, and would very much like
to hear any suggestions on what is likely to go wrong with this system.
 
Thanks,
Paul Cauthorn
BEE FRIENDLY
Eugene, OR  USA
 
 
 
> Unfortunately the time to remove drone brood is also the time that
> queen breeders want copious numbers of drones in their populations and
> the drone trapping method is counter to that goal.  I don't see any
> way to compromise these two goals.  It seems that drone trapping isn't
> a productive option for queen breeders.  My suggestion would be to
> segregate different classes of hives: those used for honey production
> and those used for drone production.  The honey producers can employ the
> drone trapping methodology; the drone producers can be treated with
> chemicals, forsaking the honey produced in those hives.