Treating the source

[jon roberts]

I am new to the forum so please forgive me if this has already been brought up. I have tried to find info on the subject but could not.

To my knowledge all of the discussion about mites has been about tx after you get them. Question #1 is
Do they live in the ground or elsewhere?
Where are the bees picking up the mites?
Can we not treat the source rather than
waiting till the bees are infested?

One of the reasons the mites become resistant
is because we do not kill 100% of the mites
in each hive thus leaving the strong ones
to reproduce. That is why we have such a
problem with antibiotics at this time.

If we could kill them with stronger mitecides
when they are at the source rather than on the
bees we would be much more effective.

I am not suggesting we spray the flowers or any
other food source. But if they are in the ground
that might be a perfect opportunity.

Your thoughts. thanks, jon

[Gregg]

Jon, I assume you are talking about Varroa mites. They only live on and are found on bees & brood, so there is no "source" to eliminate them. They are transmitted only by other bees (drifting & robbing).

[dcross]

Same thing for tracheal mites.

[buckbee]

Someone here has suggested that wasps may be carriers of varroa, since we see them flying in and out of hives quite frequently. Anybody know if this has been looked at?