>To me CCD is a myth and only a word now used *today*to describe a dead
hive.

I must admit, Bob, that I am a bit incredulous that you would make such a
statement!  I know many lifelong commercial beekeepers who easily recognize
the common causes of colony death, and surveys indicate that they freely
place blame upon things such as starvation, mites, pesticides, etc.  But
they can recognize an unusual phenomenon when they observe it.

As one who has experienced CCD, as well as having spoken with a number of
beekeepers who have watched it spread across their holding yards, I must
state that the specific signs of CCD are distinctive, and well defined.

I have also created CCD-like collapses experimentally, and published
photographs of the same (ABJ this month).  Mites did not appear to be a
factor.

Just because you have not seen something personally does not mean that it is
a myth.

Randy Oliver

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