Hi All
 
I have recently fitted a varroa floor to one hive in each of my apiaries. I
will fit one to each hive as soon as the floors are ready.
 
I have not yet used the Bayvarol strips on the hives to test for varroa - I
hope to do this next weekend, when I take off the last of the honey (such as
it is this year in Ireland!).
 
However, I have been trying to make some sense of the debris which appears
on the vaselined sheet of paper. I notice what appears to be chalkbrood, and
various tiny pieces of wax, propolis and other items which I cannot yet
identify. I also observe dozens of little tiny creatures crawling around - I
have not the foggiest idea of what they are. Thankfully, I have not yet seen
any varroa mites.
 
It appears to me that there is a wealth of information on varroa floors, and
that such data could reveal a lot of information on what is going on in the
hive.
 
I am wondering if anybody has carried out any study on this, or if there is
a text book, study notes, etc. which I could buy to gather more information.
 
With the onset of winter in these latitudes, when we will soon not be able
to open the hives, the data on the varroa floor will be available to us
continuously without disturbing the hives at all.
 
Would it be correct to say, that the use of a varroa floor in a hive, will
eliminate the need to change the floorboard next spring?.
 
I look forward to your postings on this subject, and thank you for any
assistance I receive.
 
Sincerely
 
Tom Barrett
49 South Park
Foxrock
Dublin 18
Ireland
 
e mail [log in to unmask]
Tel + 353 1 289 5269
Fax + 353 1 289 9940
 
Latitude  53 Degrees 16' North
Longitude  6 Degrees  9' West of Greenwich