----- Original Message -----
From: George Richtmeyer <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 7:59 AM
Subject: Re: Russian Queens
Hello George & All,

George wrote:
         I have not try Russian bees But I went with 50 screen bottom boards
 My bees are carniolans & Italian I raise my my own queens And have across
of  Italians &conns
At least we know the screens help with varroa.  Maybe better in certain
parts of the U.S. than *Apistan* & *Apicure* did from the results I am
hearing.

 I have not use no Chemical or menthal for one year to see if
 they would live with out Tretments lost one this year will not tret this
year
 to see how they make out
I assume you are saying you didn't treat last spring (2000) and last fall
(2000) and you have got 49 hives left coming out of the winter 2000-2001.
You did better than I did George and I am using treatments. Your bees are
doing better than the Russian queens. What kind of natural mite load have
they got and how big are the clusters. A most unusual story coming from
George's Apiary. Many are reporting 50-70% losses in our area this year.

 With all due respect to George I hope George isn't like the beekeeper which
wanted to sell me his bees which he hadn't looked at in awhile.  We walked
out to check  his hives and ALL were dead. The beekeeper was surprised to
say the least. He had never heard of varroa or tracheal mites. I had driven
quite a ways to look and was disappointed myself. Homer was up in his 80's
at the time. I spent a couple hours telling Homer about mites and Homer gave
me a couple of his beekeeping secrets from a lifetime of keeping bees. I
NEVER miss a chance to talk to a older beekeeper. Homer never wanted to get
bees again even though his family offered to get him a couple hives. I
offered Homer a start also but he refused. Homer said the dead hives were a
sign it was time for him to quit beekeeping. Hmmm.
Sincerely,
Bob Harrison
Odessa, Missouri