Well, I watched the PBS special on CCD, which was really about honeybees 
disappearing world wide. So, according to them, by 2035 we will have no 
more honeybees if the current trend continues. I have no idea what they 
based that on.

What was most interesting was how "CCD" has become the catch-all for 
anything that is happening where bees have problems. CCD was cited in 
Germany, Italy, Croatia, France, Spain, and England. But when looked at 
a bit closer, other factors were the cause. The English government was 
castigated because it said that GB did not have CCD but some London 
beekeeper said they did and were doing nothing about it. Which fits my  
original post, that all it takes in one talking head to make a 
consensus. The program said there is CCD, hence the one beekeeper is 
correct and the government and its scientists are not.

Also interesting that France after the ban was said to still suffer from 
CCD like problems. I though the contrary.

The most reasoned statement (statements are reasoned when you agree with 
them) that I heard was we are probably looking at a variety of things 
that cause honeybee problems. Many of the suspects we have discussed on 
this List were brought up and shot down, mostly because, like IAPV, bees 
can have it and not suffer from CCD. But maybe a combination of things 
cause CCD like problems. If so, we are no longer looking at a pathogen 
but at bee behavior in a stressed condition. If so, good luck pinning 
down CCD.

That actually makes sense because CCD symptoms are not new. We have had 
disappearing disease and fall dwindle long before mites and our current 
problems. Their impact on the beekeeping community then was great, just 
like today, but without the amplifying media.

As far as scientists jumping the gun to get their papers out first, I 
agreed with Jim then and still do, that the studies were poorly 
conducted, poorly presented and should have been put on hold since they 
were not in consonance with other CCD observations. I also stand by the 
problem of some beekeepers looking for a bailout when CCD may not be 
involved.

As far as numbers, and that the beekeeping world does not owe me a 
number, I am listening to the beekeeping world and have yet to hear 
anything that quantifies the actual problem. So is it 1/3 per 
Hackenburg, which lead to about 60% total kill last year in the US, 2%, 
80%, 5%, or what?  All those numbers have been brought up by those in a 
much higher beekeeping pay grade than I. Fortunately, we have not seen 
CCD in Maine, so it is difficult to get any perspective.

So, Jim, since you seem to be in the know about CCD and its extent to 
date- not for me but for the rest of us, is there a number, what is it, 
and what is it based on?

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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