If there is something
> that causes CCD, the answer is in the west, not the east.

Bill, I am in total agreement with you re a large number of colonies die as 
a result of mite infestation.

The point that I was trying to make was that  recurring collapses preceded 
either mite.
Again, refer to Andy Nachbauer's SAD bees, BAD bees.
Mites have just made the situation worse.

I'm hoping that the CCD researchers can pinpoint what goes wrong--could 
simply be nutrition/nosema/virus, could be something else entirely.
If they can identify the critical agent or cascade of events, then we can go 
about trying to avoid, mitigate, or treat.

I'm greatly supportive of CCD research--even though teams may be barking up 
different trees.  The end result is that we are learning a great deal about 
bee nutrition, immune function, viruses, nosema, epidemiology, etc.  Smart 
beekeepers will benefit from this knowledge.

I feel no need to second guess or criticise any of the CCD researchers. 
They are all working damn hard, and in earnest.  I've learned  valuable 
lessons from them all.

Randy Oliver 

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