The demise of honeybees in the USA due to 2 different parasites has had significant effects on crop production. Honey bees are not native to NOrth America (and I don't think they are native to the New World at all, but I'm not certain of that.) They are, however, one of the most important pollinators of many, many food crops now, and their decline has had significant agricultural impact.

Isolated pockets of honey bee strains (many in eastern Europe and western Asia) that are not susceptible to the mites have been identified since the break-up of the Soviet Union. Cross breeding programs are proliferating to develop strains of bees adaptable to the US that are resistant to mite infestations.

The treatment regimen for the mites is very toxic and intensive. We chose not to do it, and lost our hives within 2 years. Interestingly, when an old house was torn down near us, the walls were full of wild honey bees. Two different swarms moved into our hives. They are surviving. I don't think they are entirely immune to the mites, but enough of them are that the hives survive. We are leaving them alone for a few years to see what develops.

Janie