Hi Allen,

Hmm, but I checked the article in Dec issue of ABJ again - the 68% is
the average result from 3 years of a single application of sucrose
octanoate at least in one year brood was still present in the colonies
treated.  Treatment dates Sept 6, Sept 21, and Oct 15 and brood was
removed.  So it appears that there was brood in the colonies the first 2
years but not the 3rd.  Mite mortality ranged from 38% - 87% for
individual colonies for a single treatment.  So 40% - 90% per single
treatment.  So your math is a little different 100% *.32 *.32 * .32 =
3.3% well within the 90% range usually considered necessary.

I also would be very reluctant to treat colonies here in MN after
broodrearing in the fall due to impact on overwintering but treatment
earlier say in August ( we don't usually get any fall flow here ) could
be done and should help produce a nice winter cluster of young bees that
have not been damaged by varroa which is important for winter survival
here.  I agree that as it is too labor intensive for commercial outfits
at present but it really appears to be begging for some additional work
on application methods to reduce labor involved.  Might be a useful tool
for emergency treatment earlier in the season even just before or during
the honey flow.  For those of us with only a few colonies it looks
interesting but still wish it was less labor intensive and disruptive to
the colonies.  Maybe it could be useful for treating packages in transit
or for treating drone producing colonies for mating apiaries to ensure
good drone populations that are not impacted by varroa.  Time and
testing by beekeepers and researchers will hopefully result in better
ways to apply and use this product.

FWIW

blane


******************************************
Blane White
MN Dept of Agriculture
[log in to unmask]

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and  other info ---
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::