An upcoming issue of the Journal of Invertebrate Pathology will focus on honey bee disease. Here are some excerpts from a summary on varroa control:

> Trapping of mites in worker or drone brood: Up to 95% efficacy in otherwise broodless colonies; up to 50% mites removable with solely drone brood extraction; no detrimental effect on colony development 

> Use of wire netting bottom boards: Probably no or only small-scale effect on mite population, but as ’natural mite downfall’ a valuable tool for beekeepers to monitor treatment-thresholds 

> ’Energy waves’ e.g. ’Bio-Energetic Bee-Vitalizer’ activates grooming-skills of not tolerant bees: Anecdotal reports from hobbyists, effect not scientifically affirmed

> Powdered sugar: After direct dusting, up to 99% of the mites can be removed from the bees in laboratory assay; in the field trial low efficacy even if dusted every 2 weeks for 11 months

> Water -- Swarms are completely plunged for 5 min: Under controlled conditions ineffective 

> Ultrasound: No effect on bees or mites under controlled conditions

> Reduced cell size: Promising reports from hobbyists, but under controlled conditions no effect on reproduction or mite population growth 

> Rotation of brood combs: Reports of sweeping effects could not be affirmed scientifically

Quoted for review purposes only. SOURCE: Rosenkranz, P., et al. Biology and control of Varroa destructor. J. Invertebr. Pathol. (2009)



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