First of all I must apologize for failing to identify myself in my comment/question on density of beekeepers in U.S. I admit it was me. Since I have not seen any comments from other Alaskan beekeepers some of you might have guessed. I am working on getting some others in the Cook Inlet Beekeepers Association signed up. This is a great source of information. Much I cannot use, but what I can is worth it. This particular communication is in reference to Michael Hardy's article on "Where have all the bees gone?" It seems an overly pesimistic outlook. The mite problem is an example of something we have seen many times throughout recorded history. A disease which is new to a particular population is introduced with calamitous results. The natives of the Americas were decimated by diseases which were mostly a nuisance to the people who introduced them (speaking in broad terms). Whole population groups were destroyed. But not all native Americans were killed. Today they thrive at the same level as the descendants of the European immigrants. I am confidant that the same will happen with the mite devestations. Oh, the colonies kept alive by treatment of one sort or another will still be subject. The fact that most new feral colonies come from swarms, most of which emerge from managed colonies, will slow down the come-back, but I am confident that a come-back will occur before long. By the way. Is there any real evidence that there is a "native" bee population? I've heard some murmurings to that effect, but little follow up. Tom Elliott Eagle River, Alaska 99577 [log in to unmask]