> deknow writes:
> > i have also spent a lot of time and money eliminating
> treatments in my own operation. if there were any indication
> that these lines would accomplish the same, it is what i
> would have done, what i would do today, and what i would
> recommend to others.
> 
> So, then, what has been your experience and what would you
> recommend?
> 
> plb

My experience eliminating treatments since 2001 has been that it is very difficult to do successfully without a population of bees in the locality that has developed resistance to mites. I had not realized the great degree that the characteristics and health in the local population of bees affects the individual colony in the apiary. When one peers into a colony to gauge its health, you are also looking in large part, at the health of the local population.  IMO, even the best effort to go no treatments will  fail in the absence of a healthy local population of bees.    My best advice, spend your time and money helping the local feral population  to recover and develop resistance by trapping and assessing ferals from a wide region, and success will come to colonies in the apiary.   

Best Wishes,
Joe 
feralbeeproject.com  


      

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