>So while there may be active mechanisms keeping the numbers at moderate or cycling levels, there is something different from what we see in the temperate regions. 


That something different may likely be about the number of managed colonies. What would happen if Cubans were beginning two million colonies together for a pollination event and then moving them all over the country? 

> The largest Caribbean Island is Cuba, being 1250 km long, covering 109,884 km2 and currently containing over 220,000 managed colonies. In the 1950’s Cuban colonies were estimated at between 100,000 and 150,000 when Eva Crane visited Cuba in 195712. In 1968 managed colonies were censused and this revealed 151,000 hives. During the 1970’s and 1980’s beekeeping continued to grow with State support to 208,000 colonies in 1985. After this colony numbers fluctuated, reaching a minimum of 126,000 colonies in 2003. This was due to Varroa and an economic crisis. Since then, colony numbers have steady increased, reaching 221,000 colonies in 2021.

> Luis, A.R., Grindrod, I., Webb, G. et al. Recapping and mite removal behaviour in Cuba: home to the world’s largest population of Varroa-resistant European honeybees. Sci Rep 12, 15597 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19871-5

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html