> If I took a 50% loss, I'd want to be sure about the pest, disease,  even
> pesticide status of the best colonies compared to the struggling and to the
> dead colonies.  The costs should prove to be far cheaper than making the
> wrong call, basing corrective action on a guess.  Varroa is possible,
> probably probable.  But what if it's something else?
>

Amen. I have said this before, but a commercial beekeeper here in Maine
reported high losses to Varroa but the State Inspector looked at them and
it was Tracheal.  I keep hearing that Tracheal has gone away, but I still
put the grease patty on every year.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html