No. They might use powdered sugar to *monitor* mite levels, not to reduce numbers. And it is both 1. not the best method and 2. likely *not* non-toxic

Stunning day in Dunedin today

Thanks for the invitation by the Northern Tablelands Beekeeping club in Aus - good to talk with you about the Foster method for AFB as well as our rapid DNA method for pyrethroid and amitraz resistance #pyrethroid #varroa

A bit surprising as varroa losses actually declined last year as a percentage. So the rebound is a good reminder. Also have to put into context of eg USA which list about 60% of hives last year - due to uncontrolled varroa

NZ Honey bee Research symposium for 2026 ? Share your (few) thoughts: mailchi.mp/799bfc859633...

Looking across current work and potential in NZ, what would be a (very!) rough estimate of 💵 to shift the needle ?

Except NZ does *not* have the genetic resistance in varroa, described here

“Figure 1 shows evidence of photoshop gone wrong”

My response would have been “you’re welcome”
“Huh?”
“You were thanking me?”
. . . and what you said. But not as eloquently of course

If you're a fan of real-time PCR / qPCR and you've been around it a long time (yes to both) then you might also be interested in this 'dual memoir' by Russ Higuchi (inventor of qPCR) and Lincoln McBride (led the development of the instrument below - the first commercial real-time instrument)

The team here are pleased to see the publication of our method to detect (and differentiate) pyrethroid resistance mutations (L925) in varroa mites, via snapback high resolution melting - just as the resistance appears in Australia rdcu.be/e76OW

Nah, I’ve loved coffee and muffins far longer than 28 years. #notimpressed

I never quite understand why people want to keep using dUTP and UNG when doing qPCR, rather than gel-based stuff

Was always fun to ask people writing their ‘contamination was prevented according to Kwok and Higuchi’ . . . yet most couldn’t tell you what was in there !

Snap. Finding old files too from the same era - PCR protocol written for lab (oil overlay etc), early PCR papers . . .

Finding more old files - my original PCR protocol for the lab.
Complete with oil overlay and greasing the tubes. . .

30 years? Sorry Neil . . .um, wrong Neil Gemmell.
And ahh, wrong. . umm. . . me

Hmm. Thinking of ‘the Very Hungry Researcher’ . . . “the researcher wrote 3 grant proposals but they were *still* hungry . . .”

Collection of old methods papers

Old method paper

Time to throw out old papers and files. Used to love the methds-reagnts newsgroup back in the day. And the tech tips online. Even a protocol here from @profgemmell.bsky.social I’ve just noticed !

As you are considerably more literate than I, you can contemplate Shakespeare and Wodehouse.
Whereas just the other day I was talking about the criticism of Enid Blyton. . .

Oh good, my lift has arrived . .

By OneStep, you mean StepOne ? One of the few machines left that needs high ROX so you need different reagents from most machines these days . . .

Bit of duct tape ?

The only thing better than a giant worm: a giant *hairy* worm !

Been there (buying as a gift) - *wife* done that

You’ve thought about this . . . a lot !

So you’re in the chocolate (cf strawberry) camp I see. Or should I just assume it was the one at hand ? HLD to you sir