In a message dated 96-08-16 11:51:47 EDT, [log in to unmask] (Aaron
Morris) writes:
 
<< In fact, one researcher (perhaps
 more?) suggest killing off the field bees prior to the onset of cooler
 weather so any mites they carry will not be passed on to the following
 generations of bees.  Perhaps that is the answer to this question,
 relieve the congestion by euthenasia for the current field force.  I
 was incredulous when I read the suggestion, but I specifically
 asked that question at the mite workshop held at BetterBee this past
 weekend (attended by over 140 beekeepers) and no one shot it down.
 Such a strategy certainly will preclude harvesting the fall flow, but
 will address the congestion. >>
 
    Well I'll sure give it my best shot, as an idiotic idea, at best!
 
     After Hurricane Hugo, that's just exactly what happened to me, when my
field force was all out on the goldenrod and astor, on warm fall afternoons,
when they did that massive aerial mosquito spraying project.  The field force
was effectively euthanized.
 
     Sadly there were few survivors that spring, in the areas where they were
hit.  All had too small clusters to make it through the cold.  Thank God, I
had a couple hundred hives outside the application area, or I would have had
NOTHING to put in my boxes the next spring.  As it was, I had a lot I
couldn't fill, so I lost a lot of equipment, besides hundreds of hives.
 
    (Interestingly one "official" state person took slides of these stacks of
empty equipment, which he now shows as an example of "what happens if
beekeepers don't keep ahead of varroa."  We didn't have varroa then!)
 
    Nosirree!  I want my bees kept healthy and strong ALL the time, and
working on a flow whenever possible.   If you want to lose the field force,
simply move the bees on a nice sunny fall afternoon, when they are out
working hard.  I'll say your odds are about 75% that hive won't make it
through the winter, though.
 
    Sorry, if I'm being too blunt, but that idea really got my dander up!
 
[log in to unmask]    Dave Green,  PO Box 1200,  Hemingway,  SC
29554
 
Practical Pollination Home Page            Dave & Janice Green
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