Mick Youther,
I sympathize with your disappointment but it is an experience shared by
beekeepers everywhere after parasitic mites and Varroa in particular, have
moved in.
In our extension work we witness scores of beekeepers who up to that point
kept bees for the pure enjoyment of it; a means to be closer to nature, to
witness the interdependencies between honeybees and flowering plants, the
smells, sounds and, to see how it all keeps in balance. I suppose many if
not most beekeepers are naturalists with a deep seated sense of romanticism.
But now suddenly, Varroa has come around and has shattered this tranquil
image. The bees are so vulnerable to these parasites that without our help,
there is little chance of survival. And indeed, there is no alternative but
to use chemical controls. At meetings, beekeepers equate this whole mite
issue as if this wonderful, noble pursuit of beekeeping has lost its
innocence. For many, we have now entered an era where we deal with a
livestock that requires a management approach similar to so many other
agricultural commodities.
As a result of these developments, we are witnessing great changes in the
make up of the beekeeping community where Varroa has invaded. Many
beekeepers especially older ones, will be discouraged by the sheer ferocity
of the mites and exit the industry. Also, those who only had a mediocre
approach to beekeeping and extracted the most out of the bees without good
care in return, will disappear (fortunately).
Mick, I am confident in the beekeepers' determination and tenacity to deal
with parasitic mites successfully in the future. Since the mites are such
formidable foes, only those producers truly committed in staying in
beekeeping will succeed. Lets look at it positively in that mites will
force beekeepers to become better and more knowledgable in the pursuit they
love so much and that is, to keep bees!
Paul van Westendorp [log in to unmask]
Provincial Apiarist
British Columbia
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