Lloyd,
Ignore that first transmission.  Stupid me, hit a wrong key.
I was saying that I have been using Sue Cobey's New World Carniolans for the
past 16 years, except when I am running one of my scientific research
projects and then
might use XYZ queens.

Some people have taken exception to my "HaHa" characterization of the words
"tracheal mite RESISTANT."  Unfortunately, to many people accept that word
RESISTANT as meaning an almost 100% guaranty that tracheal mites will not
injure or kill the bees.  I wish it were so.

In the original home of apis mellifera carnica, the Carniolan Mountains on
the border of Austria and northwest Yugoslavia (now Croatia), the bees are
still to this day
almost disease free.  However, in the U.S., unless a queen is artificially
inseminated
an open field bred queen is likely to be bred by drones carrying numerous
diseases, and hence even some of the Sue's NEW WORLD Carniolans are not
resistant to
tracheal mites.

Perhaps the loss of 3 hives out of 10 (30%) is not of great importance to a
hobbyist,
but a 30% loss to a full time commercial beekeeper might put him out of
business.

My point is that menthol WORKS and works extremely well if it is used when the
temperatures are over 84° and doesn't work at all at lesser temperatures.
Plain
grease patties (no Terramycin) will not kill tracheal mites but will
successfully
control their population if used over a lengthy period of time (something
beekeepers
don't like to do).  Diana Sammataro's original work stated 12 month's of
continuous
use (the year around, even during a nectar flow); but recently, she has
modified the
suggested treatment time from about July through November (again, a period
resisted by many beekeepers).

Finally, each has to decide whether they want live bees and maybe less honey,
sick bees or dead bees and more honey, or dead bees and no honey next year.
Those bees called RESISTANT do not guarantee live bees.  I prefer being SURE
of live bees and hence treat my bees with both menthol and grease patties;
and the FDA, the EPA,
and all the food control agencies say that neither menthol or grease patties
adulterates the honey or beeswax.

The new APICURE, formic acid gel, recently approved by the Federal Government
is
supposed to kill 100% of all tracheal mites and 70% of Varroa Jacobsoni mites,
which is enough population control to prevent colony loss by Varroa.  I will
start testing it this month on some swarms that I have caught or going to
catch, and I will report about it later in the year.  BTW, the ONLY approved
chemical in Denmark
for both mites is formic acid and they have had excellent results.  Our US
government refused to approve the use of liquid formic acid as too dangerous
to the beekeeper, and would only approve the use of a formic acid GEL.

I hope our scientists do find a truly resistant bee, and I will be the FIRST
in line to
get some; but until then, I am going to use what bee researchers and bee
scientists
approve for use to either kill or control mites.

Now in 2000, I am more concerned about the increase in American Foulbrood
disease
due to lack of bee inspection; and now a new strain of AFB has been found
that is
RESISTANT to control by Terramycin!  As you know, some think that Terramycin
kills AFB, which of course it does not.  Terramycin only controls AFB so the
bees don't die as long as the colony is continuously treated year after year
with Terra.
Sort of like diabetes:  As long as a diabetic takes their insulin every day,
they might
live a long and fruitful life; but if they stop the insulin, blindness, limb
amputation,
and death is not far behind.  My wife of 57 years is a diabetic.

Guess I have said enough - or maybe too much!  Again thanks for the
opportunity to reply.

George Imirie