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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
Peter Loring Borst <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 13 Mar 2018 15:58:01 -0400
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> This is another example of dubious correlation. 

> Not exactly Pete,  but I get your point  BUT  the other 1200 hives suffered a lot less than 96% drop out.   About 65% of the hives treated another way made grade. Should have included that,  but I did say its not scientific.

When you say you did this and that happened with nothing to back it up except "that’s what I think happened" you’ve got nothing. When backyard beekeepers say this stuff, people tend to shrug it off -- but when large scale operators do the same thing, the rank and file stands at attention. People need to be more skeptical, more demanding of facts.

According the the US EPA

> While there are data to demonstrate that oxalic acid can be acutely toxic to adult bees, the proposed treatment rates have been established based on research demonstrating that oxalic acid will provide effective control of mites while minimizing adverse effects to adult bees. There is evidence to suggest oxalic acid is toxic to brood. However, based on the available information, the Agency does not have any evidence that the proposed use of oxalic acid will be detrimental to the colony especially given that the use of oxalic acid is intended to reduce mite loads that could otherwise be far more detrimental to individual bee and colony survival. 

So, when someone suggests a very high mortality rate, the most obvious explanation is that the chemical was applied incorrectly. The application of pesticides requires very accurate calculations; most of the severe failures are due to poor math skills and/or lack of adequate training. 

PLB

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