Requiring beekeepers to become pest control operators. Driving many hobbyist and commercial beekeepers out of business. Priority research on mites, which has taken resources from other areas and stunted progress in beekeeping's development. Pronounced loss of variation in the honey bee gene pool. There have, however, been positive aspects of Varoosis, according to Dr. Tew.
Growers appear more ready to accept honey bee pollination as a legitimate agricultural input.
It forced gardeners, growers and ecologists to re-examine their relationship with honey bees. The package bee industry did not die and continues to be healthy, although not in a growth phase. Beekeepers who survived are better practitioners of their craft. In spite of the terrible ordeal that Varroa has foisted on North American beekeeping, Dr. Tew is surprisingly upbeat about the future of the craft. I agree with Dr. Tew that the future seems bright.