Hi All
 
This posting is NOT solely about Resistant Varroa Mites, so please read it,
even if you have had almost too many postings on this subject.
 
It seems to me, that with the emergence of resistant mites, that DR
Rodriguez case for using non chemical treatments has been largely vindicated
and possibly fully proved. It also seems to me, that there are two kinds of
beekeepers. One is the older variety in terms of years spent with bees. I am
of the opinion that these beekeepers are not too open to new ideas. The
other variety, like myself, is the newer beekeeper, who is more open to new
ideas, since every idea to us is a new idea. Like all activities carried out
in this technological age, beekeeping is better for a technological approach
which is environmentally benign. I have plans to put Dr Rodriguez system
into operation as soon as I can.
 
It is now largely held, that chemical means of treating problems have had
some unwanted side effects. My understanding of what the Doctor is
advocating, is a mechanical treatment for the varroa and other mites,
whereby you just kill them as it were mechanically, and the killing leaves
no trace in the hive and hence in the environment. It is rather like the
difference between swatting flies and treating them with DDT, and we all
know what the DDT did. Rachel Carson's chilling book, Silent Spring, which
though thankfully did not happen with the force which she postulated, did
happen to some extent.
 
Dr Rodriguez, I am but a recent comer to beekeeping and I would like to
contribute a small sum to defray some of your expenses. An offer of this
sort has already been made by other contributors. I would again ask the
contributors to BEE-L (as did the other contributors), to support Dr
Rodriguez in the work he is doing both for bees and the environment, and
hence for us all.
 
Could the good Doctor indicate to us where funds should be sent, and I am
sure that we will not be found wanting. After all, think of the amount of
valuable information (some of which possibly led to better beekeeping and
hence more profit), which we have received from BEE-L free of charge, much
of which has been contributed by Dr Rodriguez. I also think of how many
books I would have to buy to obtain the information that I have received
from BEE-L. It would come to a tidy sum. And I cannot get from a book, the
personalised answers to specific questions, which I have received from BEE-L.
 
Thanks to one and all for the time spent in reading this posting.
 
Sincerely
Tom Barrett
49 South Park
Foxrock
Dublin 18
Ireland
 
e mail [log in to unmask]
Tel + 353 1 289 5269
Fax + 353 1 289 9940
 
Latitude  53 Deg 16' 12.8" North
Longitude 06 Deg  9' 44.9" West