Re. Mite Resistant Beekeepers.
With some dismay, I have followed this exchange of opinions among the
various parties about the demise of Mike's colonies and Allen Dick's
response.
As extension specialist and regulator, a major part of my daily work deals
with offering producers information and advise on how to deal with diseases
and pests, including parasitic mites. After reading Mike's initial e.mail
message, I had this momentary negative response by thinking; My gosh, the
tell tale signs are right there! It is so overwhelmingly likely that your
colonies succumbed to Varroa, why even speculate? Get testing and treat!
Plain and simple!
But then (not knowing Mike, where you are located) I thought this beekeeper
may be in an area where Varroa has not been around for long and where its
impact has not been felt yet. As such you had not been confronted yet (at
least knowingly) to the true severity of the Varroa pest.
As beekeepers in many parts of North America can attest (and Allen, this
does not include Swalwell in central Alberta yet, where Varroa has so far
been absent or at very low levels), the correct application and timing of
mite controls can somtime still lead to serious colony losses! The fact
Mike, that you as a keeper of bees, experienced a massive loss due to Varroa
has not made you any less of a beekeeper!
The whole issue of dealing with Varroa successfully (and the addition of
HBTM for good measure), is much more complex than just detecting and
applying controls. Many beekeepers come to recognize that they have to
'unlearn' some longheld practices and that now every management step has to
be carefully considered. Also, areas heavily infested with Varroa (and
especially where there are large numbers of small-time beekeepers),
successful controls are devilishly difficult and costly because of very
rapid re-infestations. I believe that many beekeepers have been suffering
massive losses because of re-infestation, not because they didn't apply
controls. And this 'failure' has not been limited to small beekeepers but
very large ones as well.
**Please do not misinterpret my use of the term 'small-time beekeepers'.
The implication is that an infested area where the total colony population
is operated by a large beekeeper population, average ownership of numbers of
colonies is low. In such area, dissemination of information about mite
control is more challenging, and the synchronization of mite control
applications much more difficult to accomplish.**
To answer Mike's original question about his colony losses, I can provide
you with some factsheets about mite control that may be of help to you.
Just e.mail direct.
I suggest that all who contribute to the list, 'measure' and evaluate your
e.mail message and response BEFORE sending it off. Having unrestricted
access to this marvelous technology of instant communication does not mean
we have no responsibility in the manner we communicate! If the list
degenerates into an exchange of accusatory and patronizing epistles, I and
may others will unsubscribe mighty quickly!
Paul van Westendorp [log in to unmask]
Provincial Apiarist
British Columbia
|