johna,
What category of beekeeper do you place yourself O90 ?.Perhaps you are making contentious statements just to be offensive ?.
My reply was to your previous post (#23), to where you asked the question above, along with the following suggestion.
I did answer and also asked you the same. You have either ignored the question or perhaps don't have a clue.
Having not even argued your supposed point (not even one example, did you quote!) but it has taken you over three weeks to make the same suggestion of me, as I did of you (your post #23) where you said:
Awful load of guff spoken about the negative effects of O.A. The best policy is to treat using 3 1/2% solution .Its a well researched method of controlling mite infestation with no chance of the mites developing resistance to the treatment.Even if you can't see varroa the chance is that it is present so why risk your colonies???.If you check on the internet you can see the huge rate that numbers can build up in untreated colonies leading to viral infections and the demise or destruction of the stock.I value my colonies too highly to leave alone and not to treat.
I at least argued my case. Here is an in depth anaysis of your post #23.
Guff - lets be hearing about it, not just insinuation. Justify your statement. Nothing to back up this statement, not even one example, let alone 'loads'.
Best policy - your opinion, and that of many more. BUT NOT ALL by any means.
the chance is that it is present - what a revelation! I am not expecting it to disappear, magically, after 18 years, spreading almost totally across the UK. I don't think there are many who do. However you are still advocating automatic oxalic acid treatment for those who are lucky enought to be totally varroa free?
why risk your colonies? You are saying I do? If you are, once more you are wrong again! I do not risk my colonies by not treating with oxalic acid. So perhaps you might retract/modify that, too?
huge rate that numbers can build up in untreated colonies - what a load of old tosh! The rate is governed by the brood cycle length - anyone who knows anything about varroa should know that! It matters not a jot whether the colony was 'treated' or 'untreated', the rate of build up is the same - they very nearly double every brood cycle. Or perhaps your bees have a different length brood cycle after treatment? The huge numbers are simply a matter of time - obviously far too long between the last treatment and intervention from the 'beekeeper'.
leading to viral infections and the demise or destruction of the stock - do you know, I agree with you there. But if those people, who inflict that fate on their colonies, had actually done something about it before the 'demise or destruction', it may well not have occurred! Funny that. I have not treated with oxalic acid for the past 5 years and have not lost colonies to the mite in that time, although the rate of incease in my colonies would be nearly exactly, on average, the same as in yours.
I value my colonies too highly to leave alone and not to treat - Well surprise, surprise, so do I! The singular difference is that I treat differently than you. Likely the same or similar outcome, mine likely being better than yours if, as you seem to indicate from your post, you rely on oxalic acid treatment for 'all-year-round protection'. I don't actually suppose you do, but that is what you are implying and the tacit message given out to new beeks. As a further benefit, my colonies have not had to contend with any 'possible downsides' of oxalic acid treatment. And there are some.
So, you can now perhaps understand what I thought of your posting on that occasion.. I, rather diplomatically, only responded to the 'rate' issue in my post #24.
My singular contentious statement obviously brought you 'out of the woodwork' after three weeks, but am still wondering which category you fit into, obviously not making a living at it (with just 10 colonies), so I will just have to guess, I suppose. Here is what I suggested,
All in all, IMO those that advocate automatic oxalic treatment fall into one or more of a few categories - those making a living, but not all of them, (include here those who re-queen each year with inappropriate queens which just give a heavy crop and then the colony succumbs to the climate), those relying on a single chemical dose for the year, those who are too lazy to look after their bees for the greater parts of the colony cycle and a few others maybe. YOU don't want to be included in those groups, as they will never be assisting the bees to make the adjustments obviously required for life with the mite. They are simply honey makers or further disease makers, not responsible beekeepers, IMO.
You will note the inclusion of 'IMO', both at the beginning and end of that. So nothing more than my opinion. But again, if the cap fits, wear it.
RAB
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