Ted > I note this study of honey bee colonies in Kenya found bees were thriving in the presence of varroa, viruses and nosema. Colonies in Kenya are also free of neonics but that seems like an unlikely factor in hive health. Could it be that there are just no Piss Poor Beekeepers in Kenya?


I just returned from a Kenya where I spent two weeks traveling around the country meeting beekeepers and opening colonies. I was fortunate to be traveling with some entomologists from Penn State and Elliud Muli, the author of the study. According to Muli, Kenya now uses all known (old school) pesticides and all the newer neonics without much regard for pollinators. So I think at this point their wax is probably a repository just like ours.  

In terms of their beekeeping skills, I was privileged to be part of many conversations with local beekeepers, some with interpretation, and one thing became abundantly clear- beekeepers in Kenya do nothing in terms of managing their colonies beyond the initial provisioning of a space. They do not manipulate brood, they don't measure or treat for varroa, and they only feed if there's a prolonged drought but even then feeding is not a common practice. They don't treat for or try to manage SHB or ALHB (African Large Hive Beetle). Also, there is no package bee industry or queen breeding operation that I was told about. The only time they visit a colony to rob honey. I guess you could say they practice the Bond method with wax moth doing the cleanup.   


Bill Hesbach

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