Thanks for watching. Getting good information is a challenge. I see a lot of opinions flying around that seem to me to be based on emotion rather than reality. I hope the powers that be don’t take too long to implement a workable plan to live with Varroa. I’ve heard it could take three years, but we need a better timeline than that. We need education, effective treatment solutions, accelerated breeding programs and research. I hope these things are in place before Varroa reaches you and your fellow Victorians.

I’m happy to hear that you will start again and most importantly, get educated. There are good products currently in the approvals mill, that will make management easier and safer than at any time before. We don’t need to go straight to synthetic chemicals. There are very effect organic option. Oxalic acid is effective with new delivery methods. My wife’s uncle in Slovenia hasn’t lost any of his 16 hives in ten years by applying proven non-synthetic techniques and treatments. We can do it. It’s just another challenge to beat.

Thanks, Rodney. At Apimondia this month I talked with people from all over the world about their Varroa experience. All of them said it’s a nuisance, but as long as you’re diligent in caring for your bees, they’ll be fine. Lazy beekeepers will suffer losses and create mite bombs for their neighbours, but loop back to effective care and again, they’ll be fine. I saw some very cool treatment technologies too. At least we don’t have all the viruses that are vectored by mites elsewhere…yet.

@@AussieMikesBees I mostly use oxalic acid vapor and it does a good job with the least adverse effects on queens. The cost becomes very low per hive. I’m going to try making the oxalic acid extended release strips for an even easier treatment regimen

I’ll be very interested to hear about your results. There’s a product that’s been used in South America for six years that is slow release contact instead of vapour. The strips stay in for weeks at a time, so covers multiple brood cycles and doesn’t affect wax and supers. It’s currently in the Aussie approvals process.

That's what I'm making. It will be a game changer with the ease of treating. Please keep us informed.@@AussieMikesBees

Thanks. I’ve talked with a lot beekeepers from around the globe and confirm your statement. We’ll have some problems to start with. The only treatment method available to us right now are miticide strips issued by DPI. There are many who don’t want to use synthetic chemicals. Until other options have been approved by the federal authority even Oxalic acid or essential oils would be “off label”. I’m sure there are plenty who have probably already mailed in overseas treatments. At least we don’t have the viruses that are vectored by Varroa elsewhere.

I’m sorry to hear of your mate’s heart attack. The 15 months of the eradication program has taken a heavy toll on many beekeepers. From multigenerational commercial operations losing the lot, to the backyard beekeeper losing their much loved hive. I’ve witnessed and shared the anguish during my time volunteering in the eradication phase. I was hopeful that the eradication would succeed and I think the it was the right course of action. If the implementation was much faster and harsher, I believe it would have worked. I embrace the transition to management. It’s time for education and approvals of quality options to now live with Varroa. There’s no room for lazy beekeepers anymore. Thoughtful, intelligent and diligent beekeeping will bear strong, healthy hives. Those in the previous Red Zone were facing years without bees. Now they can start again, although the DPI advise against it at this stage.

Apologies, Lois. I missed your comment. I'm sorry to hear that you'll give up your bees. I can't imagine life without mine. I know Varroa will challenge us, but with education and diligence, we can manage the new reality. Interesting times.

Sorry to hear that, Brett. Some of our club members only have natives and are very happy with them. Still, I won’t be quitting my bees. With all the IPM options coming our way, I don’t think Varroa will be as disastrous for us as it was for others when it first hit. I talked with Randy Oliver at Apimondia about his six year breeding program producing gentle, productive Varroa resistant bees. They still have Varroa,but in very low numbers not high enough to treat. Purpose bred bees that are effectively treatment free.