Now only an estimated 2% of the feral honey bee population remains, and even this derives annually from honey bee swarms from beekeeping operations. Practically speaking, the wild honey bees have become extinct in the United States due to infestation of the Varroa mite. Infested colonies will die within 1 to 2 years if the beekeeper does not take necessary actions against Varroa mites. ... Delaying treatment can be accomplished if you monitor the level of Varroa infestation in your colonies. Treatment is justified only when the economic threshold is achieved. Economic thresholds are defined as the pest level that justifies treatment in order to prevent the pest from reaching damaging levels. For the southeast Piedmont regionb, the economic threshold has been determined to be: mite populations: 3172-4261 ether roll levels: 15-38 overnight sticky sheets: 59-187 http://www.ent.uga.edu/bees/Disorders/Varroa_mites.htm -- Peter Borst <[log in to unmask]>