Hello Wallace & LilJohn, I hope life finds you both well and prosperous.
CCD, well there is something to this, it?s not just a scare tactic. Understand the followings:
In the 1960?s I had bee hives as a kid. There was no hive maintenance to me, no need for it. The bees were completely self sustaining. I did not even requeen, the bees managed that too. I did Honey management and that was all that was required. I added 2 supers in the spring, extracted in July and that was all that was required of me. The bees were just fine, Year after year. I?d catch swarms and walla, a new hive that only required a home. I never saw bee disease, I never lost a hive in the 60?s. No need for bee management, nothing required of me by the bees. The bees took care of everything themselves. Not so now a days, the bees need some help.
Now a days, beeks that is, most on this forum, are well accomplished bee keepers that can detect as well as solve problems within a hive. Now Management is a must, not an option as in the 60?s. Bees are not sustainable like in the 60?s; now we have virus, beetles, mites, neoinics, and or lack of habitats induce (demand) bee management.
I have lost hives this decade that I managed with great care,,, but not one hive lost in the 1960?s under zero management. CCD is real, not a conspiracy. Hives have increased this decade because beeks are doing a tremendous job educating themselves, managing and maintaining bees. I give credit to the beekeepers for increase in hive numbers, CCD is still out there and a serious threat, but a manageable threat.
Blessings