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Varroa Mites:

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The Varroa mite was first introduced into Florida in 1987. Since then, it has spread throughout North America and controlling this parasite has become the number one concern of most beekeepers. Because the mite, known as Varroa jacobsoni, is introduced onto the European honey bee, the insect has no innate resistance to this parasite. As such, all infested colonies are expected to collapse without some mite control instituted by the beekeeper. The population control of Varroa is a moving target in several ways, not only within a colony, but among colonies.

O More on essential oils research, November 2000.

O EPA sets tolerance level for coumaphos in beeswax and honey, September 2000.

ONew Zealand rejects eradication of Varroa, September 2000.

OVarroa destructor: new name for an old parasite, July 2000.

OVarroa mites in New Zealand, June 2000.

OInternational bee meeting on AHB and mites in Tucson, AZ, May 2000.

OApicure® based on formic acid becomes labeled for mites, February 2000.

ODetecting Varroa using powdered sugar shake, February 2000.

OCheck-Mite+® label approved, February 2000.

OOrganic acids, essential oils and taste, January 2000.

OFluvalinate's effects on queens and drones, January 2000.

OVarroa-tolerant honey bees: Tucson Study, December 1999.

OVarroa-Virus connection: UK paper at Apimondia, November 1999.

OA twelve-year review of Varroa in North America, September 1999.

OVarroa a five-species complex; paper at Apimondia, September 1999.

OMore on open-mesh floors for Varroa control, August 1999.

OVarroa Control: Bottom Boards and Breeding, June 1999.

ODetermining Varroa population levels, March 1999.

OCloser examination of Varroa becoming resistant to pesticides, February 1999.

OVarroa bottom boards; doing the sticky board one better, December 1998.

OVarroa Resistance to fluvalinate confirmed in Florida, August 1998.

OAAPA publication on Varroa mites, June 1998.

OThe sticky board: a new apicultural tool, May 1998.

OVarroa management compared to American chestnut, May 1998.

ODetecting Varroa resistance to fluvalinate , April 1998.

OVarroa resistance to fluvalinate rises, April 1998.

OVarroa certification changes in Florida as evidence of mite resistance mounts, February 1998.

OMore on Oils of Essence in Mite Control, November 1997.

OStatus of Varroa Control With Apistan®, October 1997.

OSmoking Bees: Alarm and Varroa Control, August 1997.

OImportance of Following Up Varroa Treatments, August 1997

OA case study in African honey bee resistance to the Varroa mite. Comments on a thesis by Dr. Rémy Vandame, May 1997.

ODiscussion of Varroa resistant to fluvalinate (Apistan®:) in France, March 1997.

OFormic Acid Registration--Your Comments Needed for Varroa control

O Christmas Present for Honey Bees--Thanks to the Agricultural Research Service

ODiscussion of oils of essence in Varroa control, January 1997.

O Discussion of experimentation and the use of essential oils in Varroa control, December 1996.

O Dr. Roger Hoopingarner discusses Varroa treatment timing in the midwest in his B-Plus newsletter, November 1996.

O Integrated control--suggesting a medley of measures as suggested by Dr. Nicholas Calderone, October 1996.

O Use of essential oils in Varroa control--a new kind of information flow as a consequence of the Internet, October 1996.

ODiscussion of fluvalinate accumulating in the world's beeswax supply, August 1996.

O The concept that the Varroa mite has turned the honey bee into a truly domestic animal, much more dependent on the beekeeper, April 1996.

O The Baton Rouge, LA bee laboratory is looking for candidate colonies that might be resistant/tolerant to Varroa , February 1996.

O Update on alternative mite treatments reported. American Beekeeping Federation, Portland, OR January 1996

O Status of Varroa in Brazil and on Pacific islands, August 1995.

O Sampling methods for Varroa-- latest information, August 1995

OThoughts on the population dynamics of Varroa, June 1995

OEssay on use of fluvalinate to control Varroa--Use it Right or Lose it is the message, February 1995

O Update on mite treatments,. American Beekeeping Federation, Austin, TX January 1995

OVarroa mite connection with new disease called Bee Parasitic Mite Syndrome, December 1994.

OMajor article on resistance to pesticides--linking concept to Varroa control, November 1994.

ODiscussion of the switch by Varroa from drones, the preferred host, to workers in the fall, October 1994.

OUnapproved use of fluvalinate in Georgia for Varroa; inspections, April 1994.

OMore thoughts on Varroa resistance to fluvalinate, May 1994. This and remarks in March in response to Dr. Yaacov Lensky's remarks in January 1994 about Varroa showing resistance to fluvalinate in Israel.

OGeneral remarks concerning pesticide resistance in insects, linking this to the Varroa situation, November 1993.

OHow Varroa mites humbled beekeepers in southern states, October 1993.

OThe alternative material Miticur ® for Varroa withdrawn from the market, October 1993.

OInformation on problems with the pesticide Miticur ®, September 1993.

OHow the Varroa population can radically change with conditions in the colony, August 1993.

OA general discussion of how honey bees protect themselves from disease; many of these are thought to be involved in protection against Varroa, July 1993.

OResumes of articles in a special report on Varroa mite research in Experimental and Applied Acarology (No. 4), December 15 1992, May 1993. Reports concern grooming, reinfestation and other studies, May 1993.

ODiscussions of mite treatments at Entomological Society of America; use of oils and what they do to mites are issues raised, March 1993.

ODiscussion of why Varroa control is a beekeeper community problem--reinfestation a major way mites spread, March 1993.

OVarroa mites as one part of a standardized management plan, February 1993.

OThe concept of resistant stock in Varroa and other mite control--example of American chestnut, January 1993.

ODiscussion of pesticide formulations for mite control--how and why they are needed and their costs, January 1993.

ODiscussion of compatiblity issues between Miticur ® and Apistan ®, November 1992.

OReported Varroa resistance to Apistan ® in Italy, October 1992.

OReport on Varroa research, including bee tolerance, infestation levels and sampling, August 1992.

ODiscussion of formic acid use for mite control; recommendations and warnings, July 1992.

ODiscussion of Fluvalinate pros and cons; long-range low level dosages might harm bees according to research in Israel, April 1992.

ODiscussion of monitoring levels of Varroa; what are treatable levels, April 1992.

OVarroa in Egypt in 1989; control methodologies, March 1992.

OPesticide use in Georgia against mites, November 1991.

OIssues on formic acid use for mites, July 1991.

OApistan ® gets Section 3 general use labelling, November 1990.

ODiscussion Varroa detection; new video available (VT 149) , general quiz on Varroa with answers 1990.

OInformation on fluvalinate contamination incident due to Varroa control, August 1990.

OIntroduction of stock that is Varroa tolerant, issue of Apis mellifera. scutellata and Apis cerana tolerance, June 1990.

OVarroa in Italy compared with situation in Florida; recommended treatment levels as proposed in Europe, October 1989.

OAPHIS proposed Varroa rule abruptly withdrawn; analysis of situation., June 1989.

OMany nervous about pesticide use for Varroa; organic honey issue discussed. April 1989.

OCosts and benefits of stock introduction as part of Varroa control strategy, April 1989.

OInserting Apistan ® strips using innovative methods: a flexible gripper and cold, February 1989.

ONegotiated Rule Making regarding mite movement agreed upon, December 1988.

OVarroa Video (VT 249) on detection first released, September 1988

OPesticide resistance in general and its impact on Varroa control, August 1988.

OOn treatment thresholds for Varroa, June 1988.

OSection 18 emergency label for Fluvalinate on wooden strips rescinded, March 1988.

OReflections on using pestides inside a beehive for Varroa control, December 1987

OVarroa research in Florida; historical information, November 1987.

OVarroa first found in Florida: biology, control and detection, October 1987

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© 1997, M.T. Sanford, "All Rights Reserved"