Dee Lusby wrote:

> But high mite drops seeing is KEY! low mite drops in seeing is DEATH!!!!! 

Since I have looked at hundreds of sticky boards, and counted thousands of
mites, I must point out that the boards give a basic estimate of the number
of mites in a hive. Low mite drop generally indicates low infestation. It
can also indicate an extremely weak colony or one about to die. I never
thought mite counts gave an accurate estimate of the infestation rate,
because they don't take into account the strength of the hive. 

It is generally assumed that the bees that fall are primarily dead from
natural causes. Mites do die, you know. Some are no doubt killed by the
bees. To judge mite infestation I prefer to examine the drone brood. To get
a better picture, an ether roll or sugar roll must be done. This gives an
idea of mites per bee. 

I doubt that powdered sugar dusting is harmful in any way to bees. To reject
the use of sugar or protein supplements as "unnatural" is an extreme
position at best. Unfortunately, I have seen this repeated in the news.
People are telling reporters that the colony collapse is caused by
supplemental feeding of bees. These practices go back at least a hundred
years without ill effects. In my 1908 and 1890 "ABC & XYZ", A. I. Root wrote:

"Of course, sugar syrup is better than some honey that the bees gather; and
pound for pound, it will go further in the hives as food." 

"I would unhesitatingly take syrup made from granulated sugar, in place of
the best clover honey or any other kind of honey, if offered at the same
price. I say this after having fed many barrels of sugar."

* * *

> the SC hives were helping the LC hives stay alive by taking mites away
from them FWIW via drift. 

The idea that mite resistant hives in an apiary "take mites away" from other
colonies is certain a brand new idea as far as I know.

pb 

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