Occasionally I get questions from readers of my dairy that touch on topics that are debated here. I took a little time to work on this reply, and, since the question is a common one on this list, and, since I'm a painfully slow typist, I thought I'd maximize on the effort by sharing this one here, now. --- I have to ask you a question: reading your diary, I saw that you're treating with Apistan now. I assume spring in the same phase here in Sweden as in Alberta (dandelions about three weeks away). Over here, spring Apistan treatment is a definite no-no. I have asked our national bee disease expert about this and he claims it's strictly forbidden. Also, the instructions on Apistan packages here say treat 6-8 weeks in the fall AFTER honey harvest. Is spring Apistan treatment considered (or proved) safe or are your regulations less strict than ours? ApistanŽ instructions vary from one country to another. Our packaging specifies use " in the spring before the first honey flow and in the fall after the last honey flow". Also, "For best chemical distribution, use APISTAN STRIPS when daytime high temperatures are at least 10 degrees C." We understand that by "flow', the package means flows that are large enough to require supers. Otherwise, we would never be able to put strips in, because, around here, there is always a risk of a light flow during any 42 day period during seasons when it is not too cold to use them. We are having a very slow, cold, spring. We are still barely able to get to some hives. Daytime temperatures were in the minus teens last week. We would have liked to put on apistan several weeks ago, but the weather has been against us. For us, the dandelion flow is 5 weeks away. Silver willow 7. Nonetheless, we never make enough to store in supers or extract until mid-June or July, at the earliest . Spring flows in our area are used for build-up and splitting only. Alternative treatments (acids, drone brood removal and the small cells) are pushed hard around here, but winter losses to varroa have been huge this winter and more people are moving toward Apistan. I'm sure many would like to use it this spring to save whatever colonies they have left. I, frankly, have little use for such methods when a small Apistan treatment works so well. a.. Drone removal seems, to me, unnatural, invasive, and labour intensive. b.. Small cells, I do not understand, even though I had several articles published in Bee Culture about my visit to Lusbys'. Besides, all my comb is 5.2 and larger. c.. Acids (see here) are messy, slightly dangerous, slower, more labour intensive -- and more variable in their efficacy. Moreover, a recent post to sci.agriculture.beekeeping , by a regular contributor, complains about an almost total loss after oxalic fumigation. Apistan works well for us. Our fall mite drops (natural - 24 hour) were all less than one varroa per day, and our only treatment had been one strip in spring. We did have an extremely dry spring and summer, though and that may have the effect of reducing varroa. Nonetheless, I learned this spring 1-strip technique from a beekeeper with 12,000 hives who claims to never get over 300 mites with his fall 24 hour Apistan-assisted drop samples. As always, YMMV. Each region and each beekeeper is unique, and what works for one, may not work for another. Whatever method is chosen, the prudent beekeeper will follow up with careful observation, and tests to verify success. A smart beekeeper listens to everything, but reserves judgment until he or she has proven it in his or her own bee yard(s). allen http://www.honeybeeworld.com/diary/ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::