I would like to express my gratitude to the current members of the list for all their helpful advice and comments. I am new to beekeeping(first year - two hives) and when first heard about the list, assumed it was for researchers, universities and commercial people. In other words, novice need not apply. However, after lurking a bit, I have discovered a group of friendly, humorous individuals bound together by their interest/love for a tiny but important critter. I have learned much - especially about current research on mites(tracheal and varroa and more!) and been encouraged in my decision to jump into beekeeping after thinking about it for 20 yrs. I truly appreciate the education I have received thus far, and look forward to becoming a contributing part of the discussion(as my experience increases). Judy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Displaced Texan in PA [log in to unmask] Iron Acres - where the water is red and the grass is green! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~