Varroa / Package Bees

[Dave W]

Greetings . . .

I monitored (natural drop) my new package this spring many times (at least weekly), and found NO mites. Why?

thanx
Dave W

[loggermike]

Probably because the bees were shook from a hive that had been treated for mites,so the bees were pretty clean from the start.And starting out without brood and a brand new queen lets them outrun the varroa the first season.The only thing you have to watch out for is your bees robbing out collapsing hives and bringing back loads of virus infested mites.That can do you in pretty quick as I have found by sad experience.
---Mike

[Dave W]

loggermike,
Treated? How?

[beeman 202]

apistan and coumaphous both kill 97%+ of mites, unless mites are resistant.
commercial outfits use these strip applied chemicals to treat the mite.