------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From:          "Rodney L. Holloway" <[log in to unmask]>
Organization:  Texas Agricultural Extension Service
To:            [log in to unmask]
Date:          Wed, 3 Apr 1996 12:16:26 CST6CDT
Subject:       wild honey bees and parasitic mites
Priority:      normal
 
Julie,
 
Here in Texas we have been concerned for some time with the apparent
decline in wild honey bee populations.  The problem, however, is a
lack of sound evidence.  Most of what we hear is anecdotal at best.
In an attempt to document our situation  I have recently
corresponded  with Dr. Bill Wilson, USDA Honey Bee Lab in Weslaco,
Texas.  The following is the complete text of that letter.
 
Rodney L. Holloway
Extension Specialist
Texas Agriclultural Extension Service
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas  77843-2488
 
PS
Since writting to Dr. Wilson in February ('96) I have seen popular
press articles from Mississippi and Lousiana regarding the apparent
demise of wild honey bees.
 
 
Text of letter of February 15, 1996 to Bill Wilson
 
 
Dr. Bill Wilson
USDA/ARS
Honey Bee Laboratory
Welaco, Texas
 
Dear Dr. Wilson:
 
Over the past year you and I have conversations regarding the impact
of parasite mites, varroa and tracheal, on Texas Honey Bees.  The
general consensus is that parasite mites (specifically varroa) have
been devastating.  Every commercial and honey bee keeper I talked
with in 1995 had lost bees to varroa mites.  With most operators,
regardless of size, it has been one half or more of their bees killed
by mites.  One would expect wild honey bee colonies to be similarly
affected.
 
My office has received numerous inquiries from individual wondering
why they are not seeing wild bees (aphis).  Dr. Bart Drees Extension
Entomologist at Bryan, Texas in his June '95 newsletter reported
inquiries from home owners concerned about the absence of honey bees
in backyard flower gardens.
 
The dwindling of wild hone bee is apparently not confined to Texas.
In the December '95 issue of Progressive Farmer, an article by Boyd
Kidwell, "Where Hall All the Honey Bees Gone", reported an appparent
absence of wild honey bees in Tennessee.  Kidwell quotes John
Skinner, Tennessee Extension Bee Specialist's observerations of an
increase in clientele inquires concerned about an apparent absence of
wild honey bees.
 
Reporting to the South Western Branch of the Entomology Society of
America in January of this year ('96) on the status of Africanized
Bees (AHB) in Texas, Dr. Horace Van Cleave offered evidence for the
apparent slowing of Africanized Honey Bee's northern movement.
Citing unpublished data from the Texas Apiary Inspection Service
(Paul Jackson and John Fick) a significant number of swarm catches in
the eastern part of Texas have bee infested with varroa mites.  John
Fick believes this would offer some evidence for AHB movement
patterns and it  also provides evidence that wild honey bees are
being impacted by parasitic mites.
 
My office plans to conduct a survey of Texas bee keepers in 1996 to
document pest problems encountered in their bee operations.  We will
query bee keepers opinion on honey bee pest problems, how they have
been impacted personally and what is being done to fight diseases and
pest problems in Texas honey bees.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Rodney.L. Holloway
Extension Specialist
Texas Agricultural Extension  Service