An Open Letter to the U.S. Beekeeping Community

The year 2001 was very challenging for all of us in the beekeeping community. As you know, the fight to control the Varroa mite is more complex now that fluvalinate-resistant mite populations are widespread. Fluvalinate is the active ingredient in Apistan®.
In response to the growth of fluvalinate-resistant mite populations, the USDA has published guidelines for rotating Varroa control products. Following such a program will help minimize the potential for hive damage. An excellent article outlining the rotational program and advising close monitoring of mite populations (by either the ether roll or sticky board methods) appeared in the June 2001 issue of the American Bee Journal (vol. 141, no. 6, p. 412). These monitoring methods should help beekeepers determine the economic thresholds for using any Varroa mite control products.

As the business manager for Apistan Anti-Varroa Mite Strips, I concur with the USDA guidelines and strongly recommend that beekeepers with questions about the rotational program or monitoring methodology contact the USDA for more information. Please do this prior to using Apistan so that resistance does not cause you economic loss. The continued use of Apistan without consideration of these new guidelines may exacerbate the resistance problem, resulting in the continued erosion of Apistan's effectiveness.

Wellmark International, the manufacturer of Apistan, is dedicated to developing and marketing effective products. I appreciate the support of our distributors and beekeeper customers throughout this product stewardship challenge.

Your understanding of this situation and cooperation with product rotation strategies will help keep important products available for many years to come.

Scott E. Boutilier
Business Manager, Apistan

Always read and follow label directions. Wellmark International, Schaumburg, IL. Apistan is a trademark of Wellmark International. ©2000 Wellmark International.