Someone  Wrote:
>* You may have a clear idea in mind as to what is natural and >what is 
artificial but can you say what the difference is? 
>….Wild hives are natural, keeping bees with frames isn't

A good question and good comment also!

I’m not going to suggest how others should define natural, because this is 
up to each individual beekeeper to decide.  But I do wish to comment with 
my thoughts on the matter.

Perhaps, one cannot separate human influences from the environment. If the 
void is available in the honeybees environment and accepted as a potential 
nesting site (man made or not), then it is a part of the bees habitat and 
therefore perfectly natural for bees to inhabit such a site weather in an 
old farmhouse or empty wine barrel.  For bees to ignore a potential site 
within its habitat due to it being unnatural,  would neglect their basic 
survival instincts which are to exploit what is found in the habitat for 
survival.  And therefore avoiding  ’unnatural voids’ just because they are 
human made would be unnatural in itself.

Perhaps, to the bees, the hive box is ‘just another void’.  It is already 
well documented that “neither cavity shape nor entrance shape is 
important“ when honeybees choose a nesting site.  The human perception 
of ‘what is natural’ means nothing as far as the bees are concerned.  Bees 
may build a nest in any suitable void no mater how it may be configured 
or 'who configured it'.  And the nest structure and size will be 
determined by colonies needs as it expands in relation to the aspects of 
the void, and would make it natural nesting site as far as the bees are 
concerned.  If a colony of bees happens to build a nest in a box with 
frames, OR is forced there by the beekeeper, they will still follow the 
natural set of rules while expanding and building their nest in this 
void.  That the frames are spaced in a way so as to utilize the bees 
natural tendency to leave bee space and be manipulated should be of no 
consequence.

An analogy I’ve been pondering:
If it is natural for chimpanzees to make and use simple tools 
for ’chimpanzee interference’ in nature (primates are known to use short 
sticks for extracting honey from stingless bee nests, but choose longer 
sticks for extracting honey from AHB nests).  Then why is it somehow 
unnatural for humans to make and use tools for ’human interference’ in 
nature?  How can humans be said to be affecting nature, impacting the 
habitat and yet in the same breath are said not to be a part of nature? 

I choose to use a little ‘practical strategy’ when defining the term 
natural and unnatural.  

‘unnatural’ - I choose to define as the line that when crossed 
causes ‘significant impact’ on the honeybees natural selection process 
that is essential for the promotion of survival of the fittest and 
acclimatized genetics.  This I specifically define to mean anything other 
than routine beekeeper manipulations, and manipulations designed to 
encourage a colony to perform at its highest level  that gives a colony an 
unfair genetic representation in the habitat.  So “crutches” for example 
may prop up poor genetics (increasing or decreasing drone production or 
swarming, winter survival etc.) causing them to be misrepresented in the 
breeding sphere in relation to how nature intends them to be represented.  
This can hasten the acclimatization of honeybees thru breeding as Brother 
Adam states is essential for the long term health and survival of the 
honeybee. 

‘Natural’ -  I choose to define in beekeeping as the keeping of honeybees 
as much as possible under a system of harmonious relationship between the 
honeybee, beekeeper and the environment, by using beekeeping methodry that 
promotes the healthy development of the honeybee colony and its natural 
way of living together with the needs of the beekeeper. 

Best Wishes,
Joe Waggle

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