In a message dated 3/14/01 10:26:47 PM Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask]
writes:

<< only
 production and survival.stocks used were hives removed from walls,swarms
 collected,and existing stocks.winter losses showing decrease yearly from
 25% four years ago to less than 10%this year.cause of this years losses
 of 5 hives not verified as mites.no treatment of any type used last
 year. >>

    Several have responded to my recent posting on survival of feral
honeybees. It appears that others in the southern US have also seen this
happening. It is probably early to do much observation in the North, but I
believe, at least in southern locations that there are increasing levels of
bees that have survived the winter without any varroa treatment at all.

    Despite all the bloom we have here in early spring, there is still a
nectar dearth. The normal date for bees to be self sustaining on incoming
nectar averages about March 25, though I think it will be a bit early this
year. One of the first serious nectar producers is wisteria, which has some
spotty bloom right now. Bees jump right on this, as soon as it opens.
Yesterday, I observed wisteria at a number of locations. Right next to bee
yards, as expected, there was an extremely high level of foraging, with at
least one honeybee per cluster of blossoms. But what amazed me is that one
location which is at least five miles from any domestic hives, also had just
as heavy a foraging pattern.

    Three years ago I was impressed to see ANY honeybees in areas where there
were no domestic hives. Now I am being impressed by seeing high populations
in some of these areas.

    I want to thank all who responded to my previous post about feral hives.
One mention was made that loggers are also observing an increasing number of
bee trees, so here is another resource that could be followed to check feral
populations.

   Thank you also Curtis, for posting about your experience with
non-treatment.

    Someone in the research community needs to be checking these "survivors"
to find out why they are surviving, i.e., what is the mechanism of resistance
to varroa? And is this only a mild-climate phenomenon?

Dave Green
(Thinking I'm high on bee venom, and can't sleep)
The Pollination Home Page: http://pollinator.com