Spatial clusters of Varroa destructor control strategies in Europe

Abstract Beekeepers have various options to control the parasitic mite Varroa destructor in honey bee colonies, but no empirical data are available on methods they apply practice. We surveyed 28,409 beekeepers maintaining 507,641 colonies 30 European countries concerning methods. The set of 19 different diagnosis and measures was taken from annual COLOSS questionnaire colony losses. most frequent activities were monitoring infestations, drone brood removal, oxalic acid applications formic applications. Correspondence analysis hierarchical clustering principal components showed that six (not necessarily used ones) significantly contribute defining three distinctive clusters terms Europe. Cluster I (eight Western countries) is characterized by use amitraz strips. II comprises 15 Scandinavia, Baltics, Central-Southern This cluster long-term treatments. III dominant usage fumigation formed seven Eastern countries. median number treatments applied per beekeeper lowest III. Based estimation numbers included countries, we extrapolated proportions treated with suggests circa 62% Europe amitraz, followed for next largest percentage colonies. discuss possible factors determining choice clusters.