>>The message seemed to be that pesticides are the reason 1/3 of 
commercial hives perished during the winter of 2004-2005. 

I have removed colonies from people's homes - from cavities that had 
had colonies killed off with insecticide.  Even years later, the new 
colonies that subsequently move in exhibit health problems.  Newly 
raised worker behave sickly and the queens often go sterile (or 
perhaps don't lay viable eggs) and replacement virgins often appear 
to fail to leave the nest to go on a mating flight (or perhaps go on 
mating flights and fail to start laying viable eggs).  You open up 
such a colony and find it pretty much broodless.

Chemicals greatly affect the bees and, particularly, the queens.

>>Some of my hives sit in my orchard year around. We carefully spray 
insecticides/fungicides occasionally during the spring after petal 
fall...

I know one orchadist in WA state who sprays apples to thin out the 
blossoms.  The idea is that if the tree has a smaller number of 
pollinated blossoms, the resulting fruit will be larger and bring a 
better price.  I know he's very careful with his spray schedule and 
the time when he ask the beekeeper bring in his bees.
 
We have an apple tree with 5 varieties grafted on it.  It blossomed 
and set some fruit for the first time this year.  I have not sprayed 
but it appears it will be necessary to do it next year to control 
apple rust.  I think the spots on leaves and some friut is called 
apple rust.

Waldemar

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