Allen,
I take your point of the difficulties experienced in some parts of the
world in combating varroa, and especially your view of the failure of
governments etc to develop a second line of defence. When Apistan
arrived in the UK the price of Bayvarol immediately dropped
substantially.
There is currently no UK approved alternative to pyrethroids
(Bayvarol/Apistan), so *when* resistance arrives we may well be rushed
into an unhappy emergency solution such as Coumaphos.
In all fairness I should mention the promising work to find a natural
fungal defence against varroa being carried out at Rothamstead. Very
promising, but a race against the arrival of resistance.
My original point remains. The uncontrolled use of DIY chemicals is
liable to lead to early arrival of resistance or contamination of
honey. both must be discouraged.
Regards, John Burgess, Editor Gwenynwyr Cymru/The Welsh Beekeeper

----- Original Message -----
From: "Allen Dick" <[log in to unmask]>
>
> The methods of application are many, and range from strips of paper
or wood, to
> drops of chemical placed on the hive floor, and to aerosol sprays in
combination
> with acetone and other carriers.
>
>The basic idea of using
> one type of control only was entirely responsible for the
development of
> resistance.  Governments, researchers and chemical companies let us
down.
>
> There *are* good reasons, however to consider carefully the
advisability of
> using a raw agricultural chemical in a honey bee hive that produces
food for
> humans. Safety, efficacy and legality are all concerns.
>
> Apistan also has been tested and proven not to contaminate honey if
correctly
> applied.  This is extremely important if one is trying to produce
honey for sale