Hello paul & All,
Paul said:
> But CCD is appearing in places where Imidacloprid isn't hardly
> used.

CCD for the most part seems to be a name for bees dying or deadouts. 
Actually very little of those deadouts contained the symptoms which fit the 
CCD team description. Many beekeepers filled out the survey hoping for a 
government handout.

Ask for a survey this year and say a 3 pound package will given for each 
hive claimed as lost and see how the CCD states light up!

Now there certainly are problems with our bees. I am in contact almost daily 
with commercial beekeepers and I can honestly say that most of those having 
troubles this year had troubles last year. A few new beeks are reporting 
troubles but most have a good idea what caused their losses. Also if  the 
problem in Dave Hackenbergs bees had been a new pathogen then radiation 
would have solved the problem and it did not. Davy hackenberg said they are 
down to around 900 hives with only a third strong enough to split. So all 
thats left in the Hackenberg issue is contaminated comb which could not be 
removed by radiation. Hackenberg suspects neonicotinoids.

I never said neonicotinoids are the cause of the so named CCD.  However 
neonicotinoids in my opinion are causing some problems and in my opinion 
will continue to cause problems. The reason is they are systemic and can be 
found in both pollen and nectar. Also that the amounts found can change with 
soil buildup.

Pesticide issues are difficult to prove but the chemical company  has 
provided beekeepers with a PPM number which will kill bees. When we find 
dead hives and those PPM numbers then we know who owes us for the hives. If 
happens then if the payouts get too high for the chemical company then I 
would imagine some use on plants bees visit will be pulled.
What I just said is not coming from me but commercial beeks pollinating 
neonicotinoid treated crops.
I am not sure what might be in the planning stage for sub lethal damage to 
bees but the actual hive kills with high levels of neonicotinoids found will 
for sure result in a claim. My source said that the chemical company is 
responsible as they have said neonicotinoids would never be found other than 
small PPB amounts. So beekeepers have a starting point.

Do you agree Paul that if beekeepers find a yard of bees dead and when the 
comb/pollen/honey is tested the level of neonicotinoids are at the level the 
chemical company has said with its own research is lethal to honey bees 
those beekeepers have got a claim?

I do believe CCD is not caused by a new mystery problem.  The CCD issue has 
resulted in many things learned about our bee problems and hopefully the 4 
million research dollars supposed to be spent will result in new information 
which will help beekeepers.

Bob 


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