>hi - >the bees have absconded from my single (hobby) hive . . . my local expert >tells me that it's because of varroa mites. this has made honey collection >particularly easy this year! some questions . . . > In two cases in Santa Barbara, colonies have been found as "puddles" on the ground. A sample taken from one revealed a high level of varroa. That particular "puddle" persisted on the ground for a week and a half before I treated (smothered) it. Adrian M. Wenner *************************************************************** * Adrian Wenner E-Mail [log in to unmask] * * Department of Biology Office Phone (805) 893-2838 * * University of California Lab Phone (805) 893-2838 * * Santa Barbara, CA 93106 FAX (805) 893-4724 * ***************************************************************