Bob Harrison wrote

> Is all the recent beekeeping pest spread (tracheal mites, varroa and
Aethina
> Tumida) over the last two decades  of beekeeping history (U.S.)coming from
> swarms on ships at ports?

This is different to what I had heard and read.

Firstly, the literature has several references to the small hive beetle
coming to the USA in fruit.

As for varroa and tracheal mites, in 1986 when in the USA I was told that
they had come with the illegal importation of bees from South America to
Florida.

Trevor Weatherhead
AUSTRALIA