From: "Owen Watson" " Vietnam has had varroa for some time
> and deals with it by rapid buildup on colonies in spring (ie
> outbreeding varroa), drone brood destruction, and another
> non-chemical management method (see  Control of Varroa, Mark Goodwin
> & Cliff Van Eaton, Ministry of Agriculture, NZ)."

The Vietnam control regime apparently typically involves cutting back to
50-100 hives at the end of the season and expanding to 500 by splitting
during the first flow at the start of the next saeson.  Varroa are
controlled by removing drone brood and also the first brood frames filled
after inducing a period of queenless-ness, (the pupae being extracted and
sold as a food delicacy).  No chemicals.
Drone brood removal in spring has always seemed to me to be like driving
with the brake on.  You induce the bees to increase brood rearing but then
destroy their efforts. If that brood rearing had been concentrated on worker
production, there would be more foragers later and a larger harvest - so the
method is not 'free'.
Any comments from beekeepers in temperate areas who rely strongly on spring
drone removal?

Robin Dartington

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