Peter wrote:  
"This thesis (since the introduction of varroa, the number of substances
that beekeepers are willing to put in the hives has increased
dramatically...)is supported by neither any data nor a close reading of
history."

Peter is usually pretty "on the mark", but in this case, and in all
fairness to Dean, I have to agree that since the advent of Varroa, the
substances, ease of use and lack of concern over said use has sky
rocketed!  The beekeeper mindset shifted from one where pesticides were
the enemy to one of we can't survuve without 'em!  The problem is the
alternative (watching your bees die) is at least as bad or worse that
walking the straight and narrow (no treatments).  This is not a call for
the "Organic" crowd to rattle their sabers they have their own list for
that.  Neither should the last statement be construed as "Organics not
welcome here!"  This post is merely an observation and agreement with
Dean that since Varroa arrived on the scene there has been an
increasingly lackadaisical attitude about what some beekeepers are
willing to put into their hives and how often the do it.

Aaron Morris - thinking "Luke, beware the dark side!"

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