Hello All

I have spent some time recently examining varroa inserts, using magnifying
glasses and other aids to my ageing eyes to attempt to spot the infernal pests.

Anybody who has done this will I believe readily testify, that it is a very
difficult procedure, to attempt to identify creatures measuring only 1 mm by
1.1mm in a quite unbelievable lot of pollen, propolis, bees legs etc.

I was told recently, and I wish to obtain feedback from the List, about a
stunningly simple procedure to examine this debris.

You just throw the whole lot into methylated spirits. Whatever floats is
either varroa mites or Braula or maybe bees legs etc. Everything else sinks.

You thus narrow down the area of investigation to a very small number of
possibilities.

I have tried it and it seems to work

Can the List please say if what I have been told is correct?


Sincerely
Tom Barrett
49 South Park
Foxrock
Dublin 18
Ireland