Yes ,the almond orchards are a great melting pot for spreading the current
(and old) pests and diseases.I am sure the small hive beetle will be the
next thing brought here that we will have to deal with.Maybe the so-called
super varroa came here from elsewhere(seems I first heard the term used a
few years ago about Florida varroa).No matter.Because almonds provide many
jobs and are one of the few things this country still exports(helping
reduce the trade deficit) hives WILL keep coming and so will the
pests.Beekeepers will just HAVE TO keep up with the latest research and
info in addition to monitoring pest levels or go out of business,simple as
that.I am not convinced there is a totally varroa resistant strain of bee
that can survive the onslaught of hives crashing all around them ,but I
think there are bees that can with a little help from time to time.Right
now I need a bee that can survive Californias 'super bears'!(56 hives
destroyed last season).
---Mike

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