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Subject:
From:
Peter Dillon <[log in to unmask]>
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Date:
Sat, 4 Oct 2003 22:31:16 +0100
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Rosalind James wrote:
"The truth of the matter is, it is unlikely that these fungi hang around in a hive forever once they
are introduced.  It would be nice, but not likely to happen."

Approaching from an IPM direction, this seems an ideal situation. The removal of active material or
organisms after the period of need is to be wished for. Once the pest population has been reduced to
a level below that of economic damage on its host, treatment should be suspended.

Populations should then be monitored. Only when the level again attains damaging proportions should
it be reapplied.

"These fungi just are not able to survive and grow that well in the hive environment."

Again this sounds fine!

"In order for the fungus to stay in the hive for years, it would need a large number of live hosts
(varroa) to transmit the disease."

Beekeepers normally do not wish to maintain large numbers of V.d. in the hive environment. Levels
helping to maintain susceptibility to specific treatment are to be considered beneficial.
(Are Varroa considered as a disease? - I have always thought of them only as an infestation, that
then could cause various infections resulting from their mode of activity)

"Although you might think you have a lot of mites, if the fungus works as well as we would like it
to, it will kill off it's hosts, and then it will die as well."

Sounds like the perfect definition for Biological control

"For this reason, the fungus will have to be reapplied to the hive again."

As long as the above stated conditions remain as the constant - the faster it is proven that the
organism is proven to non hazardous in other domains, the better.
It would again help open up the genetic pool of the bee strains available to bee breeders. Being
restricted to Russian, SMR strains etc. may lead to other potential problems in the future (this is
not to be taken as critical of the work do and being done on those strains and lines!)

Regards,
Peter

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