Gavin writes: 1)Could they have brought in a pathogen? ...Not this one,too experienced. Did they handle combs?...Only in selected hives for viewing and then by endbars,but mostly me doing. Were they just in the yards affected?... No. 2) Are there migratory beekeepers with yards anywhere near those that collapsed?...yes. 3) What about pesticides?....I don't treat. Could the bees in those yards have reached places where folk might be using pesticides such as crop growing or even golf courses or suburban trees or gardens?...no crops, no golf courses, no suburban trees or gardens...instead, wildlife refuge & inside inner circle of restricted mountain range. Did anyone test the survivors for disease?...Yes. Dr Bromenshenk is to be commended for that, for an official sampling. His call as to findings. Sincerely hope that your other yards remain free...So far not seen with exception two.Oddly, late spring due to training conference with cattle, I moved hives from one yard in center of problem to set into those two yards, so roping,branding, wagon driving,road grading, etc could be taught. Then reset up yard after conference with new splits/fresh caught bees like I have always done in starting new hives.But did this in other yards, in other countys where no problem seen. Last check end Feb of survivors going into winter with me bedding down, still there. Next check coming next week with help from 2 visitors from Mass flying in. What reason? Not my call,... but I don't treat, artificially feed, move hives out of gen local area S. Ariz, except when have to(conference), self contained for making bee numbers (don't buy). Also self-contained making own beeswax foundation. Because of this, it is Dr Bromenshenk's call...for solving ? what happened. He sent in samplers for analyzing...so can someone fund him to keep him helping others? I am proud of him for helping me try to figure out cause. Dee- ____________________________________________________________________________________ You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com **************************************************** * General Information About BEE-L is available at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm * ****************************************************