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Date: | Thu, 13 Apr 2006 16:39:13 +1000 |
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> In particular, I'd like to know if any of you have witnessed times when
> the queen has laid eggs (drone or worker eggs) but the colony failed to
> rear some or all of these eggs to the adult stage. Under what conditions
> did this happen? Was it during a time when there was a nectar dearth?
> When colonies had precious little resources? Right after a swarming
> event? Why do you think that this happened?
Thought I would reply via Bee-L as I would like to see what others have
experienced and what they have observed.
In Australia, I have seen beehives go out to a honey flow on Caley's
ironbark (Eucalyptus caleyi) and within a week cannibalise all the brood
both unsealed and sealed. This was because Caley's ironbark is renown for
having no pollen and plenty of honey and it was a dry year with no
understory plants flowering. The bees must sense that they have no protein
source so cannibalise the brood to conserve their own body protein. This is
in our autumn (fall for the northerners) come winter. The yield per colony
can be good, up to 100kg per colony. If going to Caley's ironbark, most now
feed with protein patties and the hives will maintain about 3 to 4 frames
with brood on them.
Trevor Weatherhead
AUSTRALIA
Coming to Apimondia in Australia in 2007?
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---
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