>How far and how fast does Varroa spread if unaided by beekeepers? 8.6 km 5.4 miles a year. The first Varroa in Europe was discovered by Oldrich Haradzim researcher of Czechoslovak bee research institute in southern Slovakia in 1962 he also wrote the first Varroa life cycle and is my co applicant of discovery of fungus which kills Varroa. US Patent # 6,837,770 B2 In 1992 he wrote to me and asks me to find and send him the biopesticide containing this fungus as Varroa was approaching a valley where he had his cottage and his bees. Czechoslovakia is a hilly country with stationary HOBBY type bee keeping with no movement of bees allowed except in local area of Village. Villages are not more than 4-5 miles apart and there is beekeeper or two in each Village. Sales of Queens and their larger producer The Bee institute is in Czech part and all shipments off Queens were in east direction while Varroa was spreading in opposite west. The distance from the place of discovery to Oldrich cottage is 260 km or 160 miles, it took Varroa 30 years to cross the distance or 8.6 km 5.4 miles a year. Bill Ruzicka Ps :Heather & JOE story for you. Bill's Honey Farm - Home of the MiteGone Formic Acid Treatment Kelowna, British Columbia, CANADA Tel/Fax: 1-250-762-8156 (the best way to reach me is by phone Pacific Time) Email: [log in to unmask] Website: www.mitegone.com *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at: http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm