Peter Writes:
varroa has wiped out virtually all feral colonies
- I know of only one within 5 miles of home.
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I often wonder about the sequence and description
of events around the collapse of the ferals in the UK.
Here in the North Eastern USA, many beekeepers in
Pennsylvania can pin point the exact years the event
took place due to the devastating impact absconding
feral colonies and varroa pressure had on domestic
colonies. It put allot of the old timers, unable to
cope, and grief stricken, out of business.
"In Pennsylvania, an average of 53 percent of managed
honey bee colonies died between 1995 and 1996 from
parasites like varroa, and in many regions of the U.S. nearly
all feral honeybee nests have died."
http://extension.psu.edu/ipm/news/general-ipm/general/varroa.
After the event, beekeepers were demanding
explanations from the Apiary Inspectors about
why their colonies collapsed, -when inspectors,
by way of scientific method of mite counting
(which was performed by the inspectors) indicated
colonies were either below thresholds, or required
a "certain measured prescription dose of pesticide".
A emergency meeting was called by Penn State
to answer questions from furious beekeepers. Standing
outside before the event, listening to other beekeepers
comments. I wondered if the State had not underestimated
the anger of beekeepers and that security perhaps
should have been present. The top-guns were present,
noticeable in their absence were the inspectors, perhaps
told to stay clear of the event.
In any case:
My observations were:
* pesticides in colonies were NOT effective during
and around the times of the collapse.
* Penn State was claiming resistance to pesticide as the cause,
and alarmingly, recommending doses other than that
subscribed on the label, -I witnessed this.
IMO, Suggesting, they were at a loss, knowing no more than I.
* observational suggested to me that varroa levels at the colony
level are highly influenced by the varroa in the population.
* It also suggested that any strategies in breeding
resistance in honeybees should be implemented with
consideration for resistance levels and health of the
population as a whole as well as at the colony level,
as they are inseparable. Ie: recover the population
as you recover at the colony level.
* After the collapse of the ferals. Dependant on ferals
for mating, I had limited success until about 2005 when
ferals recovered in my area, in part due to my practice
of collecting ferals, assessing, and letting swarming
of good stock to occur in order to establish a feral
population -so necessary for success in my area.
This all -In my opinion.
Best Wishes
Joe Waggle
Feral Bee Project:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/FeralBeeProject/
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