Mike Stoops <[log in to unmask]> wrote:


>Joe,
>     Can you expound on some of the differences in expressed traits that 
you are observing?  How are they different from those traits that you see 
expressed in you own colonies?

Hello Mike,

It appears that there is a resurgence of micro populations of ferals in 
remote areas, with each population occasionally having different 
pronounced orders of traits.

I have identified a remote area several years ago that was leading the 
feral recovery.  I removed several colonies with massive nest structures 
of comb 4 plus years old from this area, at a time when no calls OR only 
one to two year old colonies succumbing to varroa were being discovered 
else ware.   If I were to describe an area that would be prime feral 
habitat, this would be the place.  Abundant large voids in the form of 
abandon farms, silos and old frame construction farm houses, massive 
border trees harboring voids, a variety of forage types and water.   These 
colonies in this area have a spontaneous grooming behavior and are of cell 
size below 5.0.   The  line continues to maintain very low mite 
populations, and I have not seen the trait to this degree in any other 
population of feral or domestic colonies.  In other feral populations 
where grooming traits seem lacking,  I will generally see a very high 
degree of hygienic behavior and also with small cell size.    

In side by side assessments of woodland type ferals against swarm calls 
from populated areas, there was NO comparison.  In this dry year that the 
assessment  was done; woodland ferals maintained a very nice honey cap and 
abundant brood production,  while ferals from populated areas had 
difficulty bringing in sufficient nectar to maintain even minimum brood 
rearing functions, and showed very clear signs of stress and reduced brood 
production.  This is a potential indication of different foraging 
behavioral traits existing in the woodland ferals.  The woodland ferals is 
where I am focusing my trapping, due to the enhanced foraging behaviors 
and the fecundity in the broodnest that does not seem to elevate varroa 
levels, indicating other modes of resistance may exist.  

Best Wishes,
Joe

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