> Bob, since you know what CCD is,how about helping out the research people
> and tell them to quit looking for the smoking gun.

The CCD science pointed to nosema ceranae and two virus IAPV & KBV.

To the CCd team no smoking gun. To me both are controllable. Once you keep
varroa load low ( far lower than most researchers say) then virus issues
will almost disappear but certainly become minor.

Next nosema ceranae takes awhile to get a handle on but takes more than
simply dumping a bottle of fumigillin in your feed tank..

Most of us saw from the start the best way to healthy bees was to eliminate
the problems found in the CCD samples one at a time.

Myself and my fellow beeks were amazed that the CCD team completely passed
over the evidence and said they needed to keep looking.  New yet to be
found pathogen is starting to fall on deaf ears.

>  I can tell you it is real and not always related to ppb(piss poor
> beekeeping)

In 2004 we saw research that comb on which checkmite and apistan had been
used was a problem for bees. Did you see the millions of frames in the
largest pile of contaminated frames in the world at our friends in Deland,
Florida. Go into the main building and you will see pallets of wax.

If you go through the BEE-L archives David you will see me talk about
changing out ALL comb on which checkmite or apistan has ever been used. I
did in my operation and Bell Honey in Florida did. We have great bees!

Have you changed yours David?

Get hold of a December Bee Culture pg. 21 and read the article "When
Varrocides interact" by Reed Johnson. We knew the information presented in
2004 as did Jeff Pettis.

In 2004 the USDA-ARS should have pushed for pulling checkmite off the market
and published an article telling about the serious issues LEGAL use of
checkmite and apistan contaminates brood comb.

I have said ( in archives of BEe-L) that the CCD team should have been
looking at what the successful beekeepers were doing instead of spending
thousands of hours pouring through CCD deadouts.


> For a scientific thinking guy I would think you would at least give some
> us a benefit of doubt about being able to keep bees ,and mites.

problem is it is usually the same beeks which keep having the same problems
and their only solution is to put another nuc back in these boxes.

I do not have all the answers but I do have the best bees  I have had in 
years like our mutual friend in Deland.

Get your bees tested. then start correcting the problems the testing shows. 
Make varroa control your number one issue. Get rid of contaminated comb.
Every journey begins with the first step!

bob

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