“Do you have any facts to back this up? I work with the USDA bee lab and they told me they have no evidence of this. I do know of several beekeepers both back yard and one commercial beekeeper that feels this is correct but I’d like factual data.”

The proof is in the pudding. I regressed my bees over 5 years ago after losing most of my bees to mites; I had two hives left out of 16. Thanks to the advice of Mr. Bush of Bush Farms (google him) I have not used any chemicals in my hives since and they have absolutely flourished; I have 13 healthy and completely chemical free hives at present. IMHO, the powers that be do not want this info out there as it would crush an entire industry built around the problem we created by thinking we could improve on God’s design. Do you really think the USDA would take responsibility for the demise of the miticide manufacturers? No, they will go with the status quo to keep their jobs.

True!
The only way this would work for humans is with a single ruler and forced slavery. Humans don’t do anything that doesn’t improve their odds of passing on genes, even seemingly selfless acts may influence others that you come from a great gene pool. Bees pass on their mother’s genes by protecting the hive at all costs.

Rattler, keep up the good work, you know what your talking about. Newbeeks pay attention Rattler is a go-to bee keeper. I also use small cell wax and I plain the end boards of the frames down to 11/4 inchs so as to get 11 frames in the brood box only. I still get a small amount SHB but they are never a problem.

Thanks

Maybe its about time the USDA bee lab started doing a little research on their own. Or should I say on the tax payers dime.