In a message dated 05/11/2008 22:26:01 GMT Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

But  closer to home, varroa doesn't kill bee colonies?


Not if they're Apis cerana, which is the natural host for the  pathogen.
 
Thinking about it: as in the USA the principal economic use of the honeybee  
is pollination rather than honey production; and Am is an introduced species  
anyway, why not go the whole hog and introduce Apis cerana which should do as  
good a job at pollination and not be troubled by varroa? Labour would be 
saved  by not having to perform anti varroa tactics and the honey would be 
unpolluted  by beekeeper-applied chemicals.  How does Apis cerana get on with Nosema  
cerana?
 
Chris

****************************************************
* General Information About BEE-L is available at: *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm   *
****************************************************