PB Wrote

<snip>
It is very difficult to pin down cause and effect in such cases as these.
Almost everyone thinks the honey bee population is "immune compromised" on
the whole. Just what caused that is in dispute, but even so, given a
weakened immunity the bees could be much more susceptible to just about any
pathogen. But then, the final knockout is not the "cause" but the agent of
final demise. 
<end snip>


OK then, what was the agent of final demise in these "wave across yard" 
losses? The wave effect suggests something that travels from one hive to 
the next. To be discernable as a wave it is unlikely to a wind born, which 
to my mind leaves bees drifting. Whatever the vector of their demise if it 
is carried by drifters it should be detectable, either parasite or 
disease? All the colonies will share the symptoms of the final agent, even 
if  losses elsewhere, that are attributed to CCD, do not share those 
symptoms!


How big are the holding apiaries where these 'waves' have been noticed and 
over what time scale does the wave advance?



Peter
Cambridge UK

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