Asked on science.agriculture.beekeeping:
 
>In article <[log in to unmask]>
>Michael@helium (Michael Courtney) writes:
>
>>
>>Given that 90% of the wild honey bees have been wiped out by mites,
>>and swarming is a means or replentishing them, is swarming bad?
>>
>>I am studying beekeeping and plan on keeping a couple of hives next
>>year primarily for pollination purposes.  Wouldn't it help the
>>regional pollination if I let the bees swarm and just replaced
>>colonies which were left too weak to survive the winter?
>>
>>--
>>Michael Courtney, Ph. D.
>>[log in to unmask]
>>
 
To which I answered the following:
>The problem with swarming at this point is that the swarms provide
>new "host pools" for the mites.  Without treatment, most swarms will
>be victims of the mites and the mite population that flourishes in
>wild swarms will reinfect kept bees.
>
>I have not heard of the levels of varroa infestation equal to what was
>being reported this time last year.  I suspect this may be due to the
>fact that varroa was SO successful last year that most of their hosts
>were done in, hence there may not be as may pockets of varroa to infest
>beekeepers' colonies.  Hopefully all beekeepers are treating their
>colonies at this point which leaves the primary source of varroa
>as feral colonies (swarms).  This is merely speculation on my part,
>not borne out in any published research of which I am aware.
>
>A weak link in the Apistan treadmill is reinfestation from nearby
>colonies (either feral or untreated hives).  The most effective
>treatment program requires that colonies be treated not only on a
>beeyard basis, but on a larger geographic scale.  For instance, all
>colonies in the county.  The problems with this strategy are
>coordinating the treatment program (getting multiple beekeepers to
>treat simultaneously), feral colonies that don't get treated at all,
>and colonies in the next county over.  It's the untreated varroa haven
>that serves to reinfest other colonies.
>
 
Now my question to this forum regards my statement above that reports of
levels of varroa infestation have not equaled what was being reported
this time last year.  I have not seen them in my hives nor have I heard
of problems from my beekeeping buddies, whereas this time last year
I heard of others' problems and saw them in my hives, figuring I'd be
all right if I treated in September (a bad move on my part).  This year
I've been keeping a keen watch, but haven't seen them.  This is not
meant to instill any sort of assuredness to any beekeeper anywhere that
the plague has passed, but I can't help but wonder if varroa populations
are down proportionately to the level in which feral populations are
also down.  Observations and speculations from other parts are
requested.
 
Aaron Morris - I think, therefore I bee!