In a message dated 08/03/2009 23:51:48 GMT Standard Time, [log in to unmask]  
writes:

<<At our county AGM today we had a talk from Prof Francis  Ratnieks of Sussex 
 
University who is getting encouraging results in  selecting hygienic bees 
from  
native (Amm) stock and hopes to make  queens widely available.

He's using the liquid nitrogen test. This  isn't available to most  
beekeepers. What do people think of the pin  prick method of detecting/  
evaluating 
hygienic  behavior?

Chris>>


    I'm not sure about the pin prick method. I haven't  tried it, but it 
involves obvious damage to the cells, and that could be a  factor in their 
removal. When the CSL did a survey a few years ago, they got  people to cut out a 
square of capped comb, freeze it for 48 hours (I think),  then put it back and 
see how many cells were emptied. That seemed to work.  

Regards,

Robert Brenchley

Birmingham  UK


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