[log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> Alyn W. Ashworth wrote:
>
> An additional technique is to trap the Q on a frame of drone comb, caged
> in with excluder-type walls, so that she only lays drone. When the comb
> is full (sealed?), transfer the Q to another similar frame trap, destroy
> the first and repeat. I think that the idea is to make sure that the
> only available cells for the varroa are those within the special frames,
> so that a large proportion are destroyed.
>
> We don't (yet, quite) have the dreaded mite here in Liverpool, but
> perhaps someone with practical experience could enlarge on this
> treatment and it's pros & cons - looks attractive, but may be a lot of
> work for anyone with more than a couple of hives.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------
> Methods of 'comb trapping' varroa mites  have been used quite widely in Europe, and properly carried out can remove up to 90% of mites from a
> colony. It is not necessary to use drone comb in the comb-cage, and if you do you tend to find the queen does not lay properly. Worker comb is much better; the important thing is that the only young brood available to mites wishing to reproducein in the trap combs during the month or so the method is in use. snip
> James Morton
> CSL Regional Bee Inspector (S.E England)
Dear Mr. Morton et al:
It is amazing to see to what extents humanity will go when attempting to
control the maladies that affect us, especially when these are
influenced by nature. And as usual, when tampering with nature, humanity
ends up at the losing end!
In my experience, attempting to control mites in a fashion as explained
above is not a control method, but in fact a propagation method since it
gives the mites every opportunity to gain control of that colony where
they are given a "free pass" to breed.
It is very important to realize that the two most important life-giving
mechanisms of the colony are taken away: the egg-laying queen and the
feeding mechanism of newly born worker bees! Any beekeeper with a minor
knowledge of beekeeping has to know that he/she wants those two factors
to be optimum in the colonies. Besides when there are no newborn to
maintain the natural ongoing processes of the hive, everything comes to
a largely diminished rate! Add to that the fact that mites escape the
cells where they are bred before the host bee emerges. Result: a mite
breeding program. In all sincerity, I hope that any concientious
beekeeper engaged in the practice mentioned above, will discontinue it.
To quote an old proverb: "two wrongs do not make a right." Varroa mites
are bad critters. To give them the opportunity to propagate is bad!
Two bad factors that will contribute to major setbacks for those who
practice this activity and to beekeeping in general. PLEASE DON'T.
Many Regards.
Dr. Pedro Rodriguez
Virginia Beach, Virginia (USA)