![Just recieved a 2nd shipment of 10k Italian bees. [3005x1724 - 669KB]](https://pic8.co/sh/M9p1iY.jpg){kind=link}
varroa mites categorically did not come from the equipment.
they come from the bees themselves. and they are so prevalent that if you have honey bees, you also have varroa mites. it's just a matter of controlling their numbers with testing and treating. the common methods for testing is either an isopropyl alcohol wash, or a powdered sugar roll. alcohol wash will kill the bees you test but it's faster, powdered sugar roll works just as well. basically just count the mites and anything over a thresh hold means you need to treat your bees or watch them struggle/die.
... varroa mites didn't come from the equipment. wtf?
it came from your bees. varroa requires honeybee brood to reproduce. you didn't do your job of testing and treating. don't blame wherever you got your equipment, that's fucking stupid.
if you have bees, you have mites. you need to test and treat for them to keep their populations in check.
So despite having no mites in the Fall, and the apiary we were supplied by losing 90% of their bees over winter, it wasn't contaminated gear.
Good to know.
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