Mike,
Is the SHB a problem or simply found in most Vermont hives Mike?

 In California SHB can be found in those hives brought in in 1998 but not 
in near the numbers. 10-20 SHB were on each frame in "98" but now maybe 
only 10-20 found in the whole hive.

Those with the SHB in California consider SHB about like wax moths. 

Deadouts can be a problem if left in the field.

California is trying to shut the gate after the horse has left the field 
cconcerning SHB!

Many areas of California do not have any bee inspectors. Tens of thousands 
of hives enter and leave California without paperwork or ever being 
inspected each year. If California really wanted to inspect all the million 
hives they would need a 100 times as many inspectors to even make a feeble 
attempt.


Researchers are riding the SHB bandwagon for all its worth. The beekeepers 
blaming SHB the most for their woes (used to be the weather)have got other 
issues with thier bees also . Contaminated wax and varroa out of control.  
If they had strong hives SHB would not be an issue in my opinion. One of 
the largest beekeepers the world has ever seen told me the best way to 
fight SHB is to keep strong healthy hives with varroa under control!

Not some damn roach chemical in your bee hive to  prevent SHB infestation 
in a weak and dying colony!

The " California Almond gold rush" has caused many commercial beekeepers to 
double & triple their hive numbers and like stacking domino's the whole 
thing is falling down for many. One beekeeper actually forgot he had a yard 
of around 600 hives (which he had not looked at all year). He ordered a 
crew to bring in hives to the yard and the foreman called to say the yard 
was full of hives. The owner of the hives looked over at me ( I was in his 
office)and said he might have too many hives.

In California we had a holding yard we put hives in which were left by out 
of state beekeepers whcih forgot those hives. I hauled 72 hives to the yard 
which belonged to Perkins Honey Farm myself as Doug was already in Talow 
locations in Texas and had not missed the hives!

Bob

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