>But it seems adult drones and semen are very sensitive to overheating.


Thanks for the studies Janet. Yes, I agree with that above.  I don't plan on heating sexually mature drones only pupae in cells and only for < 3hrs at around 39℃.

I'm hoping to apply the heat before sperm is even produced using low enough temps to keep the stem cells alive and undamaged. It seems to me that 102.2℉ shouldn't be that stressful to drones- but I really don't know. At first, I plan on heating frames and then open cells to see if the mites die but for sperm viability, I'll have to look to mated queens from an isolated mating yard (which I'm still looking for).  


>The reproductive capability of female mites significantly decreases at temperatures above 36.5 °C (98 °F), and
>above 38 °C (100.4 °F) mites die without engaging in reproduction (Le Conte et al. 1990).

>The effectiveness of thermotherapy in the elimination of Varroa destructor
> Vítězslav Bičík, Jiří Vagera & Hana Sádovská


Bill Hesbach
Cheshire CT
(President of the Connecticut Queen Breeders Cooperative - be careful what you say yes to! :) 

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