Varroa and losses of bee colonies in Scotland

In relation to Scotland, some interesting findings on unexplained colony losses and a possible link to Varroa infestation of bee colonies arise from a survey of members of the Scottish Beekeepers' Association (SBA) carried out in May 2006. This survey covered the period April 2004 to March 2006 and was undertaken largely as a response to reports of apparently newly emerging problems with queen rearing in parts of southern England and concern over the effects of the arrival of Varroa destructor in Scotland in 1996 and its subsequent wide spread across the country.