> The bees don't need us to do anything for them (other than provide safe forage).
Hmm. How about controlling mites? They don't seem to do that very well. Having lost almost every hive, and having to lay out cash to restock, I don't really feel like experimenting with unproven mite control. I find it a bit comical that you say: "The bees don't need us to do anything for them (other than provide safe forage)." That has never been the case for me. In San Diego, foulbrood was epidemic. If you "didn't do anything" you lost them all to AFB. Here, if you "don't do anything" they all die from mites. This year they are dying despite all we did.
PLB
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