STATUS OF POLLINATORS IN NORTH AMERICA, new from the National Research
Council, assesses population trends among bees, birds, bats, and other
animals and insects that spread pollen so plant fertilization can occur. 

Last year, honeybees -- millions of colonies of which are leased by farmers
to ensure pollination -- had to be imported from outside North America for
the first time in decades because of a shortage in the U.S. 

Excerpts:

* Encourage innovative approaches to protecting honey bee health by

	* developing sustainable management programs for varroa mites, including
methods for managing pesticide resistance in mite populations;
	* identifying additional natural and synthetic pesticides and least-toxic
alternatives for mite control and bee management (for example, pheromones); and
	* developing non-chemical cultural bee management practices.

* Improve genetic stocks of honey bees by

	* refining methods of identifying stocks with desirable traits for
breeding, selecting, maintaining, and improving stocks with such desirable
traits as disease and pest resistance, moderated temperament, and improved
honey production, taking advantage of the opportunities afforded by the
recently sequenced honey bee genome;
	* developing a third-party certification program to ensure the quality and
effectiveness of commercial queens marketed or advertised as being parasite
or pathogen resistant (or any other specific trait)

-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and  other info ---