Excellent discussion Gavin!
I'm also on the road and short on time. Bumblebees are more amenable to
tunnel studies than are honey honey bees, so this question should be
relatively easy to answer in semi-field trials. It should be relatively
easy to plant tunnels with treated/untreated canola and place bumblebee
colonies inside.
Alternatively, since bumblebees forage close to the nest, it should be easy
to see whether bumblebee colonies placed in the middle of canola fields
produce an appropriate number of queens.
Does anyone know whether such have been done with bumblebees?
--
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com
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