>
> >There is no direct relationship between mite levels and certainty of
> collapse


Allen, Dr Frank Eischen recently presented data that suggest that the
relationship is indeed pretty danged strong, at least for bees heading
toward almonds, and for untreated bees in the Coordinated Action Project
apiaries.

Mites and nutrition are clearly our main problems, with viruses popping up
to take advantage of stressed colonies. The indirect effect of
mites--miticide residues--is also a factor, but beekeepers are becoming more
aware of that issue.

Randy Oliver

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