Well gang, I've been following this discussion and I have a few
obersevations. First, in regard to natural pollinators,yes there are
some.Perhaps they COULD do an adequit job.The question is, why do we WANT
them to? It almost sounds as if you are saying "Oh well, the honeybee as
we know it is doomed, screw bee-keeping, let something else do the
pollinating." THIS IS THE WRONG ATTITUDE. What we should say is: What can
I do to try & save the honeybee, not just for pollination, but as a
source of our hobby/business.Natural pollinators are fine, but what
concerns us here is the very survival of the honeybee. My second point is
an answer to Doug about picking up feral swarms.I agree this is both fun
and profitable,however I don't know about California, but as I've said
several times here, there are NO feral swarms I can find in my part of Va.
I work at a wastewater treatment plant with several acres of
grass/clover(white) mix. I have examined it every day for several months
and found NOT A SINGLE HONEYBEE. In years past, it buzzed with them. It
reminds me of "Silent Spring". I hope I will yet find a feral swarm or
two and further hope they have some mite resistance, but I have grave doubts.
                             Mike
 
"I take my chances,I don't mind working without a net,                           I take my chances,I take my chances every chance I get"                                   Mary Chapin Carpenter