Robin said: >and a monthly check is sufficient to show up the colonies getting infected from outside Can't agree with this. After a month there can be a considerable amount of debris making it very difficult to estimate the number of varroa. I have tried this in the past and then taken the debris home for a thorough count. The estimate was always wrong. There is also the matter of waxmoths - in this area your tray would be alive after a month! >Isn't Varooa one of the most serious problems we have? I am not sure that it is! In my view we lose far more bees (and therefore production) to chalk brood than to varroa, which is easily, cheaply and well controlled by my treatment regime. EFB has been a major problem in this area and that means loss of brood, comb and frames - which does not happen with varroa. Another real concern is the possibility of SHB arriving. >Are we taking any steps against the day when Apistan is no longer effective against invasion by resitant mites As someone who has never used Apistan (or Bayvarol) - Yes! Peter Edwards [log in to unmask] www.stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk/ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::