Todd said:
any thoughts? (a dangerous question, I know :

Dr. shiminuki (retired head of Beltsville ) and Dr. Marion Ellis (commercial
beekeeper and teaches Master Beekeeping course in Nebraska) were both asked
by me several times in one year (years ago) to give a exact figure for
varroa threshold.

Both would not as too many variables both said. When pressed they tossed out
a few figures and then went into a long discussion of the varables. Were
they not right?

In Savannah at the ABF convention (and in the American Bee Journal) Dr.
Delaplane did give exact figures.  Dr. Delaplane has had problems ever since
as (as Jim pointed out) the variables of varroa and hives are to great. The
figures in the post coming from Dr. delaplane would not be correct for my
area but I have not a doubt they would work for beekeeping in Georgia.

Areas and winters differ.

I am an admirer of "Shim", Marion and Dr. Delaplane. I knew when a threshold
number figure was given by Delaplane that problems would crop up.

The threhold numbers quoted by Delaplane were from tests run in Georgia.
They are *general guidelines* and in the ball park. What else could we ask
for?

General guidelines in my opinion are the best we will get. I respect Dr.
Delaplane for putting his opinion of *threshold* in print but would (and
have in my presentations) taken the approach of Dr. Shiminuki & Dr. Ellis.

Bob

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