World Varroa Challenge-Toulouse, France

摘要

WHY A VARROA CHALLENGE? from 1984 through 1991 we helped researchers test different chemicals against Varroa destructor on our bees in Toulouse France. During this period we became well aware of not only the advantages but also the problems associatedwith chemical control. Chances are good that either you have used or still are using some of the chemicals that we helped test1. Since 1993 we have been selecting bees for low receptivity and sensibility to Varroa destructor using the "Bond Test"2. Over the years we have cooperated with colleagues testing bee races from Europe, Africa, North America, South America and Asia for their resistance to this mite3'4'5. In 1999 to speed up selection on my own bees I stopped all chemical treatments.