I admit I kind of started this by stating that I ordered and placed some
Check-Mite strips.  However, these strips are scary things, and I would
never use them in colonies that didn't show varroa resistance to
Apistan.  However, when such resistance does appear, I would rather
protect my bees than let them die.  It is really pitiful to see bees
crawling all over the ground with deformed wings - it would be nice if
the colony would just allow them to be hive bees and not have to
forage.  But that is not what bees are programmed to do.  If they aren't
perfect, out they go!

Back to coumaphos:  The label is pretty specific about how long to leave
the strips in the hive - 42 days, but no longer than 45 days.  It
emphasizes that no honey must be collected for surplus, no supers can be
on the hives, as long as the strips are in place.  There is nothing
about requiring nitrile gloves, it just says that the stuff may cause
skin irritation and that use of gloves will avoid that.  The label does
say that coumaphos is dangerous to birds and fish, and that the chemical
must not enter the water supply.  Strangely enough, the required
disposal method is to wrap the used strips in several layers of
newspaper and send to the local landfill.

I really doubt that beekeepers will use coumaphos with a cavalier
attitude.  The strips come in a sealed plastic package of five each, and
each box of two packages comes with the two page warning label
directions.  They are also expensive - a box of 10 strips costs US$21.75
(or US$28.00 each if ordering 1 - 10 boxes).  One can't just open up a
cardboard box and break apart 100 strips.  You are constantly reminded
that the stuff is dangerous and must be used with caution, and only when
necessary.

Ted Fischer
Dexter, Michigan USA