Bob Harrison wrote:
If there is a solution I would be interested as through private emails from
the U.K. with the researchers continuing the work of Bailey they believe
bees can survive varroa if it were not for the viral infections but how do
we cure the viral infections?

     Infections which are spread trough brood can be stopped with
cancellation of brood. Jim Fisher in his report from Delaplane and Hood
lectures said that: "even 'hygienic queens' and screen bottom boards will
not control varroa when used together". Something is missing here...

    In my management against varroa I include moving bees on mountains.
Why? Because at high elevations they stop with brood rearing early - and
because I use screen bottom boards, cancellation of brood rearing is even
faster with first cold night temperatures, and, ...because it is most
convenient way (technic) for me to cancel the brood and save the winter
bees. (There is other technics, of course!)

    One strange thing happened last year - and this is totally anecdotal
observation: along all season, starting from spring I had high levels of
deformed wing virus - bees with deformed wings coming out from my colonies
trough all day long - and still they were very strong, made extra honey,
and after treatment with fluvalinate in late august (after honey harvest, I
treat only once a year) they wintered exceptionally well. It seams to me
that not all bees (subfamilies) are equally subjected to viral infections.
I must point out again: (early) cancellation of brood rearing is PRIME
factor in fighting against varroa and viruses.

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