First report of Varroa destructor resistance to pyrethroids in the UK

Varroa destructor resistance to pyrethroids has been reported in mainland Europe since the early 1990's. V. destructor was first detected in the UK in 1992 and since then there has been widespread use of the only two authorised pyrethroid treatments. A routine national screening programme for resistance to pyrethroids was established in 2000 and in August 2001 resistance was detected in southwest England. The resistance outbreak was limited to 25 apiaries, was associated with product misuse, and the resistance factors to fluvalinate and flumethrin were approximately 10 fold when compared to susceptible mites. There was no cross-resistance with amitraz, coumaphos or cymiazole. This level of resistance is far lower than that detected following widespread colony collapse in Italy and highlights the importance of the correct use of varroacides and of early detection of resistance to enable its control.