>My take is that these results also might explain why neonicotinoid
residues could

> be missed as being partially responsible


Stan, that was exactly my take when Vidau's paper first showed an effect of
Imd on nosema infection.  It made complete sense for European
losses--neonics used on corn concurrent with the invasion of N. ceranae.  A
very attractive hypothesis, and one that I have certainly not discounted.

The problem is, the more that I've looked for evidence to support this
hypothesis (and I have looked hard, and dissected every study), the less
strong it appears.

However, I suspect that any number of pesticides or other pollutants would
increase bee susceptibility to nosema or viruses, and are likely
contributors to colony mortality.


-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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