In a message dated 29/12/03 05:00:59 GMT Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: > The whole point is that oxalic treatment is not very effective until there > is little or no brood and, by delaying treatment until then, the young bees > that we need to overwinter will have been infested with varroa. So if your monitoring tells you that the brood is heavily infested with Varroa, why not take it out and freeze it and treat with oxalic or whatever else is legal and appropriate when the only mites in the colony will be phoretic? The bees will recover better from a brief broodless period and no mites than from having the mitey brood emerge and endure a more prolonged treatment later in the year. Chris :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::