I started conventional beekeeping in the 1980's before the Varroa mite hit the UK.  The worst thing we had to worry about then were the brood diseases. We thought back then that perhaps we could prevent it reaching us, and if it did, maybe contain it. Fat chance!

Any parasitic host relationship is symbiotic as it is no use the parasite killing its host. Varroa developed this symbiotic relationship with its host, a larger species of bee than the European honeybee. When man started making wax foundation to a larger than normal size, the honeybees grew unnaturally to this larger size. The greedy thinking being, larger bees mean more honey! Varroa then crossed the species barrier to the now artificially larger honeybee which had no history of co-living with it and it very quickly succumbed.

The conventional wisdom then (and now) was treat infected hives with chemical miticide or the colony wouldn't survive.  Many colonies died out anyway and lots of beekeepers gave up beekeeping, myself included for a time. After, the chemicals were not quite effective as the mites were developing a resistance. Stronger chemicals were needed and it became clear to me that there had to be a better way.

It seems that living unstressed in a hole in a tree without disturbance, or being poisoned or robbed of their honey, feral bees, unmanaged and untreated, were surviving. Feral bees are natures survivors and have, by the survival of the fittest principal, overcome disease and mite problems without mans intervention. 
 

I believe feral swarms are the answer to Varroa by utilizing their genetic diversity and keeping them in manner that closely mimicks their natural habitat. For me that means Top Bar Hives managed with minimal intrusion. There are quite a few people in the world keeping bees on natural cell size combs without using chemicals that have contained the varroa problem.

That's what this web site is about.