Hello Barry & All,
I am only a beekeeper and not a researcher and I consider the use of the
tobacco smoke bad science.  I consider the results the same as I would a
experiment without controls. I am not alone in my thinking.  I have watched
several of my fellow beekeepers go bankrupt using treatments on faith only.
Barry you and I go back quite a ways and you know I am always  willing to
give a new idea the benefit of the doubt but still I can't *come on board*
without reasonable proof, tests which others can duplicate and tests with
proper controls. I find Dr. R's statement that all his untreated controls
died as very creditable. Two years is about the limit untreated hives with
varroa have lived in my own experiments.

> Here is a portion of an email I received from Dr. R recently and
permission >
> was given to pass along. Three cheers to Dr R for being persistent! My hat
> goes off to him for continuing his research in spite of those eager to
label
> it as bad science.>
Sadly those Argentine beekeepers are in my and Bill Truesdells opinion
risking quite a bit by following on faith only.  According to Junes ABJ (pg
402)all are not happy with the results they are getting.
>
> -------
> 1.  I quit doing research in the US because government sponsored spraying
> programs for the Nile mosquito killed all but five of my research hives
and
> the pesticide used is in the combs of the remaining colonies. There was no
> reimbursement for my loses and there is no reason to start again because
the
> government is intent in continuing to spray (airborne) which means that
any
> bee hives in their area of spray will die either directly or indirectly.
> All in all, a total disaster.
I agree completely. Many hives were lost in the Miami,Florida area
(thousands) and the beekeepers lost not only the hives but the legal fees.
When you are talking about a experiment which needs to be run over several
years the problem sets all interested parties back back to step one.  The
sooner we get concrete proof your theory works the sooner we can put the
varroa issue to bed.
> 2.  More importantly, the European Community  (EC) has enacted
> environmental procedures to prevent this type of accidents hence
beekeeping  research over there is not likely to be lost due to this type of
pesticide  applications.  Hence all my efforts in this area are being done
in Spain.
I have said in many Bee-L posts I move away from spraying. Remote areas are
best. Dr R. has made a wise move.
>
>  3.  Argentinean (second world honey producer) beekeepers, some with as
> many as 8000 hives, are now utilizing nothing but FGMO (fogging and
emulsion > impregnated cords) with tremendous success.  There are many
> educational/private institutions presently engaged in FGMO research,
> some employing as many as 5000 colonies as published in several beekeeping
trade magazines.
This is great! The more people involved the better the conclusions. There
were however as many people involved in essential oils which later were
proved to be wothless in the 90's in the U.S.. I want to see a cheap,non
chemical cure for varroa as much as the next beekeeper and applaud those
researchers and beekeepers looking for the answer. Please keep us posted.
First I knew of the research was (as I posted) in the small statement in my
June ABJ.
>
> 5.  VERY IMPORTANT.   Research has demonstrated that FGMO blocks the
respiratory system of the mites causing their death by asphyxia.

Could you point us in the direction of this research?  Is the data posted on
the net or going to be in print soon?
> 6.  Presently, all beehives employed for FGMO research utilize
> screened/perforated beehive bottoms. The reason for this is that mites
under
> the influence of FGMO do not die immediately, (since their death is by
> asphyxia, hence they die slowly) but they do fall off the bees thus with
> perforated/screened bottoms they are taken off the bee population.
I am new to the FGMO discussion but my comment yesterday was the open meshed
floors would have been a big asset BUT again tests with omf will flaw the
results UNLESS the FGMO is sold as a package IPM control. In other words *
the works when used in combination with OMF,tobacco smoke and mineral oil*
There is a big difference in proving a theory to the rest of the world and
proving a theory to yourself and friends. Sadly I am not saying things Dr. R
hasn't heard before. Good luck sincerely with the FGMO Dr. R.
Sincerely,
Bob Harrison
Odessa, Missouri
Ps. Many IPM methods are available to knock varroa off bees to drop below a
OMF without coating your hive with mineral oil. Tobacco, sugar, creosote
bush smoke and grapefruit  leaves to name a few.  Research has shown the
varroa do not need to die. They simply need not be able to reattach to bees.
Hmmm.