[Parmy]

I was in the fruit industry for 38 years. Talked with several bee-keepers over the years. Those who were successful treated their bee with the utmost care as would any one who raised livestock.

They made sure that their hives were always healthy. They never reduced their hives to subsistence levels bordering them on survival.

They made sure that the bees were inoculated for the mites that can infest hives.

These particular bee-keepers that I talked to had very little of the bee collapse syndrome. Maybe too many keepers don't take care of their livestock like they should.

Just my humble observation with those in the business.

[BlueDragon]

They made sure that the bees were inoculated for the mites that can infest hives.

There is no "inoculation" available for mites. There are however, treatments. But please don't ask what those are ...it's a long list, with some history of mites developing resistance to one first widely used for many years after (varroa) mites first became a problem in the U.S. (mid 1980's), and some evidence of treatments negatively effecting queens and brood, etc.

Frankly, I don't know of any one repository of information concerning the issue. There are pros and cons with most any methods. Costs, too.

[Fightin Whitey]

Thanks for that post.

I have been wondering if there is any fire behind the smoke.

Not to say I won’t keep watching the story but am glad for your insight.