> From: "David L. Green" <[log in to unmask]>
> I'm convinced varroa resistance or weaker varroas are getting common
> around coastal SC.  I'm finding more honeybees than I've seen in years.
> Yesterday I discovered the source of some of these bees, when I found that a
> local guy has kept bees for 40 years. I know him, and had no inkling that he
> had bees. He's got five hives at the present. I asked him about varroa
> treatment and he just looked totally blank.

I found something similar with a guy, about 70 years young, that had about
20 hives (he calls them Gums) 20 years ago.  He is down to one.  He thought
the "Weevils" (wax moths) had killed them all.  He too, had no idea what I
was talking about when I asked about his treatment program.  Also, he was
sure that the hive was never dead and repopulated ever, and especially
during the last few years.

I talked him into letting me have his queen.  I am on the fourth generation
of this line.  From the start this queen and her first generation queens
hygienically tested superior to all my other lines.  All my lines pretty
close, now.  I am interested in seeing how the three SMR queens from Glenn
will compare.

Call it luck-call it what you like.  I just know it is working.

Take care,

Dann Purvis

Purvis Bros.
North Georgia Mountain Queen Producers