Control of the Varroamite has been an important research area in the three countries. You might remember Ingemar Fries and the “live and let die” project on the Swedish Island of Gotland. Beekeepers and scientists were from the very beginning eager to develop biotechnical and organic methods to control the Varroamite, in order to avoid residues of acaricides in the honey and bees wax as well as the development of varroamites resistant to the control methods.
Consequently, almost all beekeepers use biotechnical methods and organic approved substances to control the mites. Drone brood removal, formic acid, thymol and oxalic acid are the main control methods.
Søren Langberg Simonsen
Wonderful Copenhagen
sls@woco.dk
Rune Havgaard Sørensen
The Danish Beekeepers Association
rhs@biavl.dk