Peter Dillon <[log in to unmask]> wrote: "What do you mean by the
word 'weapon'?"

Hi Peter,

I am not a biologist, microbiologist, or medical doctor; nor do I know
specifically all types of bacteria that in this case are "targeted" with
the use of chloramphenicol. Perhaps someone else on the BEE-L more
knowledgeable and qualified than myself could enlighten us about such
bacteria that are harmful to humans, adult honey bees and larvae alike and
why chloramphenicol is specifically used and not tetracycline. I tried to
politely paint the source of moisture the bees pick up and carry back to
their hives and why chloramphenicol is used without going into specific
detail or beyond the scope of my knowledge. As you know in rural areas
honey bees will sometimes be found in barn yards taking up water
contaminated with animal waste; I was not writing about barnyards and
animal waste in my previous posting, chloramphenicol is used to kill
bacteria found in human waste that is taken back to the hive by foraging
workers searching for liquids, and it is my understanding that the same
bacteria is harmful to honey bee larvae and to a lessor extent honey bee
adults.

Chuck Norton
Reidsville, NC

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