Recently, a thread was posted about do-nothing bee-keepers who allow
their hives to become pools of mite infestation.I also read several
replies and, after being roasted here last year by expressing a similar
opinion,I gave much thought to this post.
        First, let me state that I am a do-nothing bee-keeper, in as far
as it pertains to chemical additions to my hives.Before you pull out the
flame-throwers,let me give MY reasons.
        First, I keep between 4 & 10 hives,with this small
operation,chemicals are both expensive and time consuming to apply.
I realize others may think this a lame excuse, but remember, these bees
are a HOBBY, not a living.When (if?) I remove honey from my hives, it is
for use by my family & friends.I never charge for my honey.My neighbors
are thrilled to get free jars and, just this year, have been thankful for
my hives after seeing how our little "oasis" had bountiful fruit &
vegetable crops compared to their friends living where bees were
absent.(Feral swarms have vanished here)
       Second,to my knowledge, there are no other bee-keepers in at least
15 miles of me, and so I doubt anyone is in danger of infection.This is
assuming my bees HAVE mites,as they were certified mite-free this spring
when they arrived and with no other swarms near-by,I hope they stay that way.
        Lastly,when I was taught the art of bee-keeping by the old man who
raised me, I carried on his tradition of "who governs best,governs least"
when dealing with bees. I open my hives periodically to check on progress
and if necessary to remove queen cells to prevent swarming(although this
is rare).I never saw him add ANY chemical to our hives and they thrived
until several years after his death,the last dying out last fall.
I would not hesitate to add terrimyican or another anti-biotic if foul
brood appeared (which I have never had, thankfully) but this is a DISEASE
not a parisite, like mites.I suppose what I mean to say is, if we
continue to pump chemicals into our hives to stop the mites,how can the
bees EVER build up immunity from them? Nature has a wonderful way of
balancing things out given time.I feel its better to let the bees do this
themselves,even at the cost of some colonies.otherwise, all we will have
are weak,chemically depandant bees ripe for the next crisis that arrives.
           I am donning my asbestos suit now, since this will most likely
stir up quite a ruckus, but remember, its only MY opinion......
                                ML High
 
"I take my chances,I don't mind working without a net,                           I take my chances,I take my chances every chance I get"                                   Mary Chapin Carpenter