On Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:12:07 -0500, Bill T <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> but if you always use something that harms your bees, you will never see a problem since the 
problem creates your baseline.


Exactly! If you have a product or a disease or a practice that shortens the life span of the workers 
even by a few days, you may not "notice" anything at all. The colonies performance may be 
*significantly* worse, however. The effect could range from slow buildup, never reaching full 
strength, smaller honey crop, etc. And if the same thing is happening to all the hives, you have 
nothing to compare them to.

pb

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