I'm getting more reports of colony losses. Some can be explained by beekeeper ignorance, but some are not. At our last meeting two hobbyists reported high losses. In one case it was 100% loss of 40 col., in the other case it was 48 of 50 dead. Both treated with Apistan last fall. I know them both quite well and inspected their bees myself, so I can vouch for their capability. The most amazing report is from a well respected commercial beekeeper here in WNY. He has kept bees since 1968 and runs over 1000 col. He has worked as an Inspector and knows dieases well. Last spring he put two new Apstan strips in each col., in March, took them out in June. He surveyed his operation in Sept. and found very low varroa counts. He made an above average crop. He saw nothing unusual last fall. He lost 80% with PMS symtoms. There is much we don't know and I don't think we have all the tools. bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb b b b Vince & Carole Coppola [log in to unmask] b b Coppola Apiaries, (716)965-2904 b b 10220 Bradigan Rd. b b Forestville, N.Y. 14062 b b b b Queens bred for tracheal mite resistance b b Honey , Pollination b b Western New York Beekeepers Association b b b bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb