IMO a leading factor that contributes to mite problems with migratory beekeepers is the fact if they are doing almonds and brooding up their bees in winter they never get much of a break in the brood rearing and consequently have large mites loads in spring. Russian bees have survived for over 150 yrs with varroa mite - but they also had a long break in brood rearing in their native lands. Mite resistant genetics work for many northern beekeepers, not just hobbyists but within a limited set of circumstances. Its not rocket science to get ahead of the mite problem by using resistant genetics, giving the bees a break in brood rearing and only using soft treatments in fall or no treatments at all. The silver bullet will never be found IMO and over doping of bees will probably continue. We have solutions but they are not the solutions that fit with the unrealistic parameters of sending bees to almonds from afar. Massive losses by out of state beekeepers is part of the cost of doing almonds from afar. Meanwhile the industry has succesfully externalized the issue by hiding under the mystery of CCD and Imid. Between the pressure to do almonds and the contamination of brood comb you can find sustainable answers to the honeybee problems. But again not the answer some folks want to hear. Like all of nature, honeybees have limitations. **************************************************** * General Information About BEE-L is available at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm * ****************************************************