Varroa, when & where?

[TooBee...]

Just out of interest, as I've heard a few conflicting reports and cannot find good sources online that I'm sure about...


1) When and where did the Varroa mite arrive in the island of Britain?

&

2) When and where did the Varroa mite arrive in the island of Ireland?

 

[Johnnifer]

1) According to BeeBase 'first found in the UK (Devon, England) on the 4th April 1992'

link http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm?pageid=93

2a) Seems they arrived in Northern Ireland (North Down and the Ards Peninsula) 10 years later according to a BBC News report of 24th April 2002

link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/1948455.stm

2b) The Native Irish Honey Bee Society reports their introduction to Ireland (that's Eire not Northern Ireland) in 1998

link http://nihbs.org/ireland-varroa-monitoring-project/