In a message dated 7/30/99 12:06:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< As previously stated I read in BEE-L pages of someone's belief that these
 floors could be used as a management technique for controlling varroa, the
 idea being that many mites fall from the bees, some to fall upon bees lower
 down the comb, some to fall to the floor. It is those that fall to the floor
 that
 manage to scramble back up into the box and onto the bees, hence the
 reason that in the UK (and I believe in the States) we were using sticky, or
 petroleum jelly covered inserts to 'glue' them down. With mesh floors they
 just
 drop through the mesh onto the ground below to be consumed by ants and
 the like, if it works a totally environmentally friendly method of
 controlling mite
 populations - but don't forget, it will not control infestations on its own,
 chemicals are also likely to be needed but maybe less often. >>

    I have just been made aware of a very large, healthy feral honeybee
colony, which might give some evidence of the benefit of an open bottom, for
varroa control. Most of the feral colonies I come across are not in very good
shape; often they are on the way out. Most are, I suspect escapees from
domestic bees, and only survive until the varroa levels build up.

    This colony is out in the open air, underneath an air conditioner. I
watched them for a while and did not spot any varroa on any adults. They look
clean and well fed.
I am going to transfer them to a hive, for three reasons, though I know it is
a risk, this late in the season.

1. The property owner says he is in no hurry, but will exterminate them if I
don't take them.
2.  I want the stock. They are obviously healthy, and tentatively I would
grade them as quite gentle. I observed them from 3-4 feet for quite a while
and none paid me any attention.
3.  I know that soon they will be fighting for their lives from yellow
jackets. I believe this is the main reason few exposed hives survive. Hives
that are tipped over are often fine, when I right them back, but in the fall,
they often succumb to YJ robbing.

    Any mites that drop off this colony, would have to move to the building,
up about 6 feet, then back out along the bottom of the air conditioner. I
would think few of them would ever be able to get back to the colony.

   I've been toying with a thought on another method of organic varroa
control. How about a mesh floor with room for a tray underneath?
Periodically, slide in a tray with soapy water, and smoke the bees with
tobacco smoke, which is known to make varroa fall off. I believe the soapy
water would effectively kill any mites that dropped, removing any chance of
climbing back up.  It would, of course require a specially built bottom
board.  Any thoughts?

Dave Green    Hemingway, SC
The Pollination Home Page           http://www.pollinator.com