george seferiadis wrote:

>          One has to understand that you cannot win with using pesticide or insecticide for your bees
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That is true only in a steady state universe. It assumes that other
treatments will not replace the ones that have become less effective
because of resistance. It also assumes that a mix of treatments will not
controll the pest.

Karen's post was excellent. I would only add that resistance is not
necessarily a permanent trait. If the pesticide is removed, the pest can
as easily revert to their prior state, if it is beneficial for them to
do so, and it seems that this is often the case. So it can be treated
with the same pesticide later.

One problem we have as beekeepers is the nature of our livestock. Shift
to a larger more individually valuable animal (such as a horse or cow)
and the whole issue of using antibiotics, pesticides and the like
suddenly disappears, even in the organic world. When it costs you a big
hit in the pocketbook, then you treat. The same can be said when
comparing the hobby beekeeper's advice compared to the commercial
beekeeper's reality.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine




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