http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090921/BREAKING01/90921034/Reseachers%20say%20varroa%20mite%20spread%20on%20Big%20Island%20is%20inevitable Reseachers say varroa mite spread on Big Island is inevitableHILO — In just over a year's time, the varroa mite, a parasite that kills honeybees, has spread from the Hilo Bay area north to Onomea and south to Pahala, researchers say. And it is not a matter of if, but when, the mites will spread to West Hawaii, said Ethel Villalobos, an entomologist at the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Although it isn't known how quickly it will happen, Villalobos said it will because bees are naturally on the move seeking sources of pollen, and farmers and beekeepers often move hives, and can unknowingly move a colony infested with parasite. "The bottom line is: Varroa mites have been all over the world and the mainland for the last 20 years, and it's substantially changed the way agriculture is done on the mainland. It will substantially change the way we do agriculture here," said Richard Johnson, owner of Onomea Orchards and president of the Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers. "It's not the end of agriculture," he said. "It wasn't on the mainland. We're going to have to learn to live with it, we're not going to eliminate the varroa mite. ... It's going to become an art of living with varroa." .... -- Juanse Barros J. APIZUR S.A. Carrera 695 Gorbea - CHILE +56-45-271693 08-3613310 http://apiaraucania.blogspot.com/ [log in to unmask] *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Access BEE-L directly at: http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?A0=BEE-L