Hello Dick & All,
I have always read your research with  interest! Thanks for U.S. beekeepers.
You are on the front lines in Canada and myself in the U.S..

> Nosema in 2007 spring bee samples (live collected bees) = 0.5 to 12
million spores per bee. . In some summer collected bees in 2006 levels of
Nosema over 6 million spores per bee.

 If you look at the U.S. CCD survey one common point which jumps out is none
of the reporting beekeepers used fumidil. Nosema in research for decades has
shown nosema kills bees in the last two weeks of adult life and most die in
the field.

I found low infection of nosema in bees which arrived from California Friday
night in down & dirty field test.

> 100% of colonies in one study with mean tracheal mite infection rate of
10% with rates as high as 20%, all in summer bees.

When tracheal mites first marched through my yards when first arrived I sent
samples off to get an idea of TM infestation. 9% was the level and the
USDA-ARS considered over 5% back then needing treatment.

10-20% in summer bees would need a  late summer treatment before the brood
for
winter is raised to even survive in Missouri.

High infestation of TM (in late stage) looks exactly like the CCD
observation of a queen and a few bees.


> Overall mean number of VM/100 bees from all studies roughly 9 mites based
on alcohol wash method).  Lethal threshold considered to be >8. Counts much
higher in many cases.

In my opinion we need to lower lethal threshold with the current level of
virus problems.

>he beetle is nasty by itself, but desperation treatments may be
contributing
to toxic effects to bees and brood.

In the U.S. ( despite what out traveling SHB experts say) most see little
problems in the field with SHB as long as they keep strong hives. I can't
see SHB ever being an issue in Canada.

Checkmite was registered for use against SHB simply because many beekeepers
wanting Checkmite to use for varroa control and once registered for bee
hives then beekeepers had what they wanted. The FDA had said no to any
organophosphate.

In my opinion placing half a checkmite strip under a cover in a beehive is
only something hobby beekeepers do ( and maybe a few southern researchers).

>Therefore, this symptom is not new.

We see empty hives in fall all the time. If the hive becomes queenless two
things happen. Either the bees all drift to other hives or laying workers.
Usually in fall they drift as even the workers are not as desperate to lay
eggs with the shorter days.

 >How would a lengthened honey bee brood cycle affect VM
development?

I can't even believe you would ask this question. Huge problems! The only
proof I have ever seen AHB would possibly handle varroa better than EU bees
(other than swarming and absconding)
is the shorter brood cycle. A longer brood cycle would be problematic!

>A logical possibility is that it would increase the number of
mites that successfully emerge from the worker cells as adults.

Bingo! No need to research the point!

\> Managed bees will only survive if pest management can be improved
(i.e.more efficient and effective).

That's the answer I am talking about!

MANAGED BEES WILL ONLY SURVIVE IF PEST MANAGEMENT CAN BE IMPROVED.

Keep up the excellent work Dick!

Sincerely,
Bob Harrison

" Finds the post of Wildwood labs refreshing"












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