>
> Allen Dick wrote:
> >
> > There are some strains that are more susceptible to CB (chalkbrood),
> > and requeening quite often helps.  We find that under identical
> > conditions, some hives will, and some not have CB.
> >
> > Rejecting any hives that have CB mummies on the floor from our
> > breeding pool has resulted in a major decrese in CB visible in our
> > outfit -- for whatever reason.
>
> Yes you are right Allen.  This is the best attitude to have towards
> chalkbrood.  Breeding is so simple.  Just eliminate the bad ones and
> multiply the the good ones (provided you prevent inbreeding).
> Chalkbrood suceptibility is one of the simplest trait to control
> trough selection.  Results come within only a few generation and
> anybody can do it.  One single easy observation is the only thing you
> need to rate a colony.
>
> Vince Coppola wrote:
> >Just some comments on the chalkbrood disccusion. I know of two ways
> >requeening can help with this disease. Requeening a colony causes a
> >break in the production of brood. This can give the bees  time to
> >clean up the infection.
>  I do not think that the mere fact of requeening has anything to do
 with getting rid of CB.  My experience telle me that the thing is
 essentially a matter of genetic suceptibility.  You refer to hygienic
 behaviour.  I am not totally convinced that HYG is the trait that
 controls the chalkbrood.  Colonies with no CB do not have mummies on
 their bottom board and not even in the drawer of their pollen traps.
 But as Kerry Clark suggested to me HYG may be involved in the way that
 HYG colonies do not even tolerate spores in their environment.  They
 may also remove the sick larvae very quicly, before they mummify.
 
I am glad to see that many others have observed the importance of the
genetic component of chalkbrood. Nobody seemed to believe there was such
a relation a couple years ago.
 
 
--
Jean-Pierre Chapleau
eleveur de reines / queen breeder
1282, rang 8, Saint-Adrien de Ham, Quebec, Canada, J0A 1C0
tel./phone (819) 828-3396; fax (819) 828-0357
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