Mike
   Over the last month there have been several contributions on BEE-L
   describing non-chemical varroa controls:
   Apr 4 Re: Natural products...
   Apr 28 ANP comb report
   Apr 28 drone comb method
   Apr 28 Reference s re drone method
   May 3 Mite attractants
 
   A simpler drone comb method was used by Dr Tibor Szabo at Guelph
   Ontario (see ABJ Dec 1994 p 838):
   Day 1: he placed a frame without foundation in position 3 of the brood
   nest of ( strong) colonies. He placed another comb at day 7 and day 14.
   Each week from day 21 on, he removed the oldest (day 1) comb and
   replaced it with another empty frame. The colonies rapidly built drone
   comb and it was filled with varroa-attracting drone larvae (10:1
   worker). These combs of brood were removed and disposed of (they could
   have been frozen to kill the mites, then thawed and replaced). Up to 12
   combs per hive were removed (in itself a drain on the colony's, and the
   beekeeper's energy) but varroa population remained low.
 
   There are many combinations. It would be nice to see an analysis of cost
   and labour for them.
 
   I noticed beside the article on ANP combs (ABJ Feb 91, p 119 (which
   indicate a reduction in varroa reproduction when using larger diameter
   worker cells), an ad. for small cell size foundation by Dadant,
   referring to USDA research from Tucson, that a small cell size may be
   effective in controlling parasitic mites.
 
   I had not heard of this research. Does anyone know the basis for the
   statement?
 
 
   Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist
   B.C. Ministry of Agriculture
   1201 103 Ave
   Dawson Creek B.C.
        V1G 4J2  CANADA          Tel (604) 784-2225     fax (604) 784-2299
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