>  Question to all on the List: are any
of the rest of you finding resistance to thymol by varroa?

No.  I have used thymol crystals exclusively since varroa was found here in 1997 and have gradually reduced the treatment over time from 8g per week for four weeks twice a year, to 8g per week for three weeks once a year.

We see very little varroa damage these days and it is unusual to see a bee with deformed wings.

What we do not know is whether the thymol remains as effective, whether the bees are developing resistance due to our breeding programme, or whether the mites are less virulent.

When we started using thymol we expected higher losses and this did happen; but now our losses are sustainable and crops remain above the average for the region.

Best wishes

Peter 
52°14'44.44"N, 1°50'35"W

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