>
> Herewith a link to a paper just out on CCD by Jerry Bromenshenk.  Those 
> who
> were at the NSW conference this year would have met Jerry.
>
> http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0013181

Congratulations! on the article!

Having read through and had a researcher read through and comment I have a 
few questions as you indicated you would answer questions *after* 
publication.

I wrote these down from the article as we came to and pondered:

" We need next to characterize the IIV and nosema that we detected and 
develop management practices to reduce honey bee losses"

We came to the above first and wondered exactly what beekeeper management 
practices you might be thinking?

We (myself & researcher) understand nosema control and low varroa levels to 
reduce virus issues. Are we considering a biopesticide to combat the IIV and 
other virus?

"Our results detected a DNA virus and two RNA viruses that had not yet been 
reported in bees in the U.S."

With the ARMY technology we were surprised the above was all the new found.

"It also implies that if Kashmir bee virus has been in North America for 
more than 20 years ,so might IIVand nosema ceranae."

The above opens a can of worms in my opinion. Virus issues were minor till 
mites in the late 80's so why the issues now if possibly Kashmir & IIV have 
been here as long as mites ?

Nosema ( apis but as above possibly ceranae) issues were always the same 
until lately. Why?

Relative minor issue which shortened the lifespan of the forager bees by up 
to a couple weeks ( reason i treated as effected my honey crop and I felt 
worth keeping under control) and better wintering in cold climates.

I have friends which have NEVER treated or checked for nosema. Kirk Jones 
(our list) runs thousands of hives and told me a couple years ago he has 
never treated for nosema and was wondering if he should"
I am sure nosema ceranae is in his bees as he sends around 10 semi loads to 
almonds each year.

question:
Could beekeepers which keep very very low levels of mites (Kirk says he 
treats at least 4 times a year) be one reason why nosema ceranae is NOT and 
issue?

"In our samples varroa mites were SEEN in many CCD colonies but not all"

I understand the above statement but *in my opinion* mites are in ALL U.S. 
colonies at some level and are the main reason we are even having this 
discussion.

*In my opinion* if you could snap your fingers and all the mites in the U.S. 
were gone the industry would quickly rebound but I am only a beekeeper with 
no PH.D by my name.

I see nothing new for commercial beekeepers presented unless you come up 
with a biopesticide beekeepers can apply.

We need a better product ( and cheaper) than fumigillin to combat nosema 
cerane!

Good article but *in my opinion* you guys write most of these to your peers!

Now Randy  will  have to write an article for a bee magazine (with 
researcher help) explaining your research in terms the commercial beekeeper 
can understand.

bob

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