Bob writes:
> its OK it seems for researchers to blame all commercial beekeepers problems on commercial beekeepers as few answer back 

I don't get this part. You want to show us where anyone anywhere has "blamed all commercial beekeeper's problems on commercial beekeepers"? Researchers are not out looking for someone to blame! We are looking for facts, first, and explanations that follow from the facts -- as found. Johnson and all have found some very interesting things that have nothing to do with what you are saying. And by the way, the idea that they only look at dead hives is nuts.

"The authors compared bees from CCD colonies on the east and west coasts of the United States with bees from healthy hives and found that gene expression varied depending on where the bees lived. CCD bees had an abundance of unusual ribosomal RNA fragments, suggesting that protein production had been compromised. Such fragments could result from multiple infections with viruses associated with CCD, the authors say."

The entire biological world is really starting to suffer the severe consequences of globalization, over-population, and the excessive use of all sorts of chemicals. In this, there is no one in particular to blame, although some constituencies are clearly blameless -- being innocent victims in all this. Like native populations ranging from the Inuit people to rare bumble bees. 

But beyond that, many pathogens are mutating at an unprecedented rate, as a result of these same factors. Globalization encourages the movement of pathogens into new regions which leads to intercrosses and invasion effects. Over-population and monocultures of people, livestock and crops create vulnerabilities for epidemics to break out. 

Who knows what kinds of things we are doing by mixing pesticides, pollution and increased temperatures? Conditions are perfect for mutations of existing pathogens into newer, more powerful viruses, bacteria, etc. which will certainly tax our ability to protect the health of the environment. The environment being: us and where we live. 

plb

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