When I started with bees in CA.over 25 years ago it was common knowledge that there were pockets of AFB everywhere and you must treat your bees for self protection.These pockets of AFB were assumed to be hobbiests who had not treated their bees and they had succumbed,and were now stacked in back yards waiting to infect YOUR bees.Over the years,having looked at lots of used equipment,I know this is true.So what happens if you dont treat your hives? About 15 years ago I talked with a man who had set down around 15 hives a mile from ours.This was in the fall and he was loading them up in his pick-up. When asked how they did,he told me they had all broken down with AFB.I asked what his treatment program was and was informed quite forcefully that he absolutely would not put anti-biotics in his hives .Our hives which had been treated never showed AFB and made a good crop.Theoretically,our hives had probably robbed his and at some point should have broken down.They never did. A good plan in CA. that works is treat before your honeyflow and after the supers are off in late summer.Then if you find AFB you should burn, on the assumption you may be dealing with TM resistant AFB.Resistant AFB is out there but dont assume you have it yet.At the same time we should be looking for hygienic bees(those that detect a problem with the brood and remove it) in our own bees,and supporting those breeders who are doing likewise.This may have some effect on varroa ,but is more likely to help us with brood diseases. Another point to keep in mind is that researchers have sometimes failed to get healthy hives to show AFB symptoms after deliberately feeding them AFB spores. --------------------------------------------- This message was sent using InterStar WebMail