Peter said:
>In their words: "CCD, is characterized by the rapid disappearance of adult
>bees from colonies containing brood and food stores but lacking damaging
>levels of parasitic Varroa destructor mites or Nosema microsporidians." In
>other words, if the disappearance can be linked to specific quantifiable
>causes, then it isn't CCD,

Ok then lets analyze the CCD hives of Hackenberg. As Bill T. has said on
BEE-L the CCD bees of Dave's were inspected TWICE in Blueberries and the
inspector listed high varroa levels both times ( in archives and in public
Maine beekeeper inspection records).

Varroa controls were failing all over the U.S. at the time.

When his hives crashed later in Florida high levels of nosema ceranae were
found as well as KBV in 100% of the samples.( ABJ & ABF newsletter )

In my opinion the finding of KBV in 100% of the samples is enough to say
varroa loads were high or HAD BEEN.  *Perhaps* Dave had used a mite
treatment which had dropped the mite load in the weeks before taking the
bees to Florida . Makes perfect sense to me he would do such a treatment in
late fall. The Maine inspector had advised a treatment.

All that's left of the CCd team to find is bee virus issues in the CCD
samples. A possible hypothesis in my opinion.

Many times the issue is not was found in the  samples  but what the findings
mean?

Quote from above
"In other words ,if the disappearance can be linked to specific causes ,then
it isn't CCD"

If Dave's bees do not fit the above CCD description then do others?

I would still like to hear from David A. what CCD symptoms he finds in his
50% yearly losses. What percent fits the CCD definition?


bob

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