Brian Fredericksen wrote:
>
> I think we can now safely say that an estimated 10% of hives in the USA were lost to Colony 
> Collapse Disorder since fall of 2006.
>
>   
Nice diagnosis. I would love for there to be at least a plausible 
number, but as long as you rely on the beekeeper's input and not direct 
observation of the condition of the colonies before CCD, even that 
reasonable number is suspect. Especially now that money may be involved. 
It is obvious that there is no good number and most of what we hear are 
guesses based on, in my opinion, unscientific extrapolation. Or 
repetition of what may have been reported before, which may have had no 
basis in fact.

You only have to look at the reports from Ohio, with little or no CCD or 
major CCD reported. It all depends on the observer and their 
conclusions/extrapolations. Too often you can take your own observations 
and think they are universal.

It is interesting that CCD was first reported in three mid-Western 
States and they seem to have fallen off the map. All the investigation 
seems to be concentrated in Pa. and Fl..I would think that it would 
concentrate on those operations where it first appeared. Has the team 
looked at those operations, created a baseline and continued the 
observations with periodic inspections? If CCD is a recurring problem 
and not Disappearing disease, which is here and then gone, that would 
seem the route to take.Too many later reports are suspect.

It will be interesting if we see CCD with bees in the blueberries. They 
are coming from all over the US and especially Florida where CCD is 
either 2% or 25% or more. So we should see it, if it is a recurring 
problem. Plus, we have the best Bee Inspector in the country on scene.

I will repeat my mantra- mites are the real issue. If you read Dr. 
Calderone's comments, that comes across clearly. CCD is only a subset.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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