Bob & Liz wrote:

>
> Absconding and constant swarming are ways Ahb can survive varroa. Sadly =
> bees can not avoid tracheal mites in the same manner.  I suspect the =
> most susceptible to tracheal mites AHB have died off and most feral =
> swarms in Arizona today can survive longer without treatment. I don't =
> believe the USDA is looking as hard at feral swarms in Arizona today as =
> they did in the middle to late 90's. I would love to see  a update on =
> those feral swarms.
> Sincerely,
> Bob Harrison

I suppose you all know that there is no AHB work on feral swarms going on
from the Tucson beelab except Dr. Justin Schmidt, who is now one-half of the
USDA scientist staff - the other half being Dr. Gloria Hoffman. In the last
year or so, retirements have included
Charles Shipman, research specialist
Louie Gasca - mechanical specialist
John Edwards - research technician
Dr. Hayward Spangler - entomologist
Dr. Gerry Loper - has cut his collaborator ties with the lab (I understand)
Dr. Martha Gilliam - has cut her collaborator ties with the lab (I
understand)
Dr. Jonathan Cnaani, visiting from Israel, has moved his bumblebee office to
the UA campus
Dr. Eric Erickson - lab director and location coordinator (retiring Jan. 3,
2002)