But as a retired hobby beekeeper, and a continuing member of the Champlain Valley Beekeepers Association, I know by experience that if one does not control the varroa mites as Tom Spears indicates ("The lowly honeybee deserves a lot more attention," Opinion, March 22) , one does not keep bees. Varroa mites weaken the bees and they become susceptible to viruses, and the whole hive can be lost very quickly.


