| 5 January 2006 |
|
American beekeepers now have a new treatment in their
fight against varroa. Vita (Europe) Ltd has just received
US approval for Apiguard®, an easily applied, herbal-based,
anti-varroa treatment that is already proving highly effective
in the fight against the mite in many countries across the
globe. |
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Apiguard is very easy to apply, is entirely safe for
users, consumers and bees and leaves no harmful residues.
It is an ideal component of an Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) program which is essential to control the development
of mites that inevitably become resistant to any single treatment
regime. Apiguard also helps to control tracheal mites and
chalkbrood. |
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"We have watched with growing concern the damage that
varroa resistant to pyrethroids and coumaphos is causing
to the United States beekeeping industry," said Dr Max Watkins,
Technical Director of Vita (Europe) Ltd. "Apiguard, our new
naturally based product, has been thoroughly tested and is
already proving to be very effective in regions as diverse
as Western Europe, the Middle East, Mexico and New Zealand." |
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| Pollination in America has been severely affected by the
decimation of honeybee colonies this year. The Californian
almond crop in particular has been particularly badly hit:
California supplies 80% of the world's almonds, but this year
the lack of honeybee pollinators was a major factor in an the
18% fall in almond production. For the forthcoming (January
2006) season, bees are expected in be even in shorter supply
- with corresponding increases in the price for pollinating
colonies. |
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| Dan Cummings, Director of the US Almond Board, said: "We
need 1.4 million bee colonies - that's approximately half of
the total number of colonies in the US - to pollinate California's
almond crop. These colonies are becoming increasingly hard
to find and in 2005 we heard about colony losses of between
10% and 50% across the country. We are therefore delighted
that Apiguard has been officially approved for use in the USA." |
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Apiguard is a sophisticated slow release gel that ensures
the correct dosage of the active ingredient thymol, a naturally
occurring substance derived from thyme, the well-known herb.
It is extremely easy to apply: a small opened tray of Apiguard
is placed on top of brood frames in the hive and replaced
with a second tray when its contents have evaporated (usually
after ten days). Bees' normal social behaviour (feeding exchange
and cleaning activities) disperse the treatment throughout
the colony. |
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| Apiguard is very competitively priced and usually costs
less than other existing treatments. It is ideal for use by
large beefarming operations where individual hive management
times must be minimized. |
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| Following this registration of Apiguard with the USA Environmental
Protection Agency, use of the product can begin in individual
States once they individually approve Apiguard. |
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| Apiguard will be distributed in the USA by Dadant & Sons
Inc. |
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| About Vita (Europe) Ltd |
Vita (Europe) Ltd is a mite control and honeybee health
specialist based in the UK and operating across the globe.
Vita researches, develops, manufactures and markets acaricide
products and is the world's dominant supplier of honeybee
health products to the honey and pollination industries. |
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In the development of new and ecologically-sensitive
approaches to mite pest control, Vita collaborates with universities
including Cardiff, Milan, Udine and institutes including
the Tierhygienisches Institut (Institute of Animal Health)
in Freiburg, Germany, the UK Central Science Laboratory and
the USDA in America. Vita's innovative research and development
work has received support from the UK Government. |
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Vita's products are available through a network of 40
distributors in 47 countries and have been registered by
more than 60 veterinary authorities. Its product range includes
anti-varroa acaricides (Apistan® (outside the USA/Canada)
and Apiguard®), chalkbrood and wax moth controls, and
foulbrood diagnostic kits). All products are designed as
elements of Integrated Pest Management programmes to inhibit
the build-up of resistance and wherever possible use natural
compounds and biological controls that are benign to all
but the target pests. |
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| As a result of its primary research of natural control agents,
Vita is currently engaged in new projects exploring mite control
in the agricultural, veterinary, and horticultural industries
as well as public health and human allergen control. |
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| Almond statistics sources |
| The Almond Board of California: www.almondboard.com |
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| Media Enquiries |
Stephen Fleming at Palam Communications
Tel +44 (0) 1635 299116
Email sfleming@palam.co.uk
Web www.palam.co.uk |
| |
| General Enquiries |
Jeremy Owen
Vita (Europe) Ltd
Tel +44 (0)1256 473 176
Email j.owen@vita-europe.com
Web www.vita-europe.com |
