BIOTECHNICAL CONTROL OF VARROA MITES IN COLD CLIMATES

Research under short (summer) season conditions in Sweden demonstrates that varroa mites can be controlled using biotechnical methods withou t the introduction of any acaricides into infested bee colonies. In se venteen colonies in a Swedish apiary the German ''Trapping Comb Techni que'' (confining queens to selected combs for part of the season and r emoval of sealed brood combs) was used for rive years in combination w ith removal of drone brood during the last (fifth) year of the study. This biotechnical approach gave good control of varroa mites and may h ave application for hobby beekeepers or any beekeeper willing to commi t to extensive hive manipulations in short season climates.