>
> The recent discovery in St Andrews in eastern Scotland, and the Irish
> find, are in resident colonies. The infestations are already between two
> and four years old. Destruction is useless as it is pretty well certain
> that the mites will have spread.
 
I would agree that it would be pointless to destroy the colony at St
Andrews as I would expect that much of Southern and Eastern Scotland is
already infected.  I can't comment on the Irish situation as I am not
familiar with the distribution of bees or the geography of Ireland.
 
 
> In Scandinavia offshore islands became infested and it could be
> demonstrated that no bee movements were taking place. It is believed
> that dead bees wedged in the front of tourist cars(or any vehicle
> travelling substantial distances) which had come from infested areas
> were one vector of spread, as the mite can live on the body until
> dessicated, which can take a few days, then jump off to a local bee
> which comes to investigate the disgorged contents of the dead bees
> stomach. Another vector is that drones have, in some Danish research
> (which I believe is disputed), been shown to travel great distances, up
> to 40 miles in one case, to congregating areas.
 
I don't think that bees travelling on the front of cars is a very
serious threat.  We have had fish lorries coming from France to
Ullapool  and lochinver for years and have not had any varroa
infestations.  I think there is probably more chance of winning the
lottery than getting varroa from that source!  I don't believe the 40
mile flying drones either.  Are you trying to tell me that a drone from
Inverness is going to fly 40 miles west to an area devoid of bees to
mate with a queen with also must have done the same journey??  Even I
would not go to that length for a bit of sex!
 
Seriously, I would like to see more positive effort being made to keep
some parts of our country varroa free especially the Islands.  The only
100% way I know of killing varroa is to destroy the colony.  To
"Control" the varroa is only giving it more time to spread.
--
Harry
Scotland
 
Knitwear Web pages:
http://freespace.virgin.net/luichart.woollens/
Beekeeping Page:
http://freespace.virgin.net/luichart.woollens/page8.html