>Juanese asked about viruses, nosema in failing bee colonies.

I started to mention Jerry's finding of IIV and nosema, but that wasn't
really Juanse's question--he wanted to know if nosema infection was
associated with any of the viruses.  I still haven't seen evidence of a
causal association, other than the long-known association between N apis
and BQCV, although I'm not sure which promotes the other.

Back to IIV, I'm actually surprised that none other than the Army pick up
IIV.  It should at least be present in hives as an occasional contaminant
from wax moth larvae.  And Higes saw actual IIV-like virions under electron
microscopy in one of his samples.  Upon carefully examining the Army's
methods, I saw no reason to question their findings.  Indeed, I even went
so far as to collect some IIV-infested pillbugs thinking that I might
intentionally contaminate a bee sample to see whether Jerry's critics would
detect the IIV (I never sent)!
-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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