When we were asked by data collectors in the industry earlier this year if we had experienced CCD losses, we carefully looked over the symptoms before giving our negative reply. Even though we had a larger per cent of winter deadouts than any other year, it was clear it wasn't CCD. If anyone were to ask me now if we have been affected by CCD, I would have to answer, "Positively." It is not a case for media headlines: "CCD HIts Hawaii". No, it's a case for every one of us beeks to understand that all of this information and misinformation as well as cartoon movies for kids that have come about because of this CCD issue, we are now the enemy of the bees. It used to be that the kids respected us for the work we do for the bees, and taking the time to educate them. Now I hear questions like, "You're not one of those people that use smoking guns on the bees, are you? or "Do you really keep thousands of bees in a tiny box?" It seems not to matter in the view of the public just how you keep your bees or what you do to them or for them, if you're a beek, you're the cause of CCD. I see the CCD losses to have gone far beyond the number of hives disappearing mysteriously. Molokai Meli ****************************************************** * Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm * ******************************************************