Todd wrote

> There was a recent thread discussing the supressive effects of broodless
periods on varroa populations, particularly in > Russian strains. I have
made some observations that seem to correlate perfectly with these
statements.

Those who visited China for the Apimondia many years back reported that the
Chinese were using this type of control method for mites.  I assumed varroa.
They would put the queen in a small cage made out of bamboo, like an
introducing cage, and hang her in the hive for several weeks.

It was claimed that this break in brood cycle was effective against the
mites.  It would be very labour intensive and I would imagine that the hive
would make queen cells with the result that you would be looking for a
virgin queen if you made the break more than 2 weeks.  If the time was
longer and they made a new queen, I imagine it would defeat the purpose as
you would have brood for the mites to start reproducing.

In Thailand, they tell me that the beekeepers take their hives up to the
high country where the queen stops laying and this is used as a part of mite
control.

Trevor Weatherhead
AUSTRALIA

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