Hello All

Rune Stenseth wrote

>We are about to start an experiment with heating of hives
>in the spring to increase early strength.

I would be of the opinion that such a course of action could cause
unpredictable results to the bee colonies. Surely this is major interference
with the bees' response to their environment, a response which has been fine
tuned by them over millions of years. Would there not be an element of
danger in this since it could well fool the bees into believing that the
outside temperature was warm enough for flying when it may not be?.

If we give crutches to the bees will they then be able to do without them?.
And the question must then arise as to what kind of bees we will end up with.

All in all it seems to me to be interference with another delicate balance
achieved by nature. The result of such interfeence has up to now been pretty
devastating e.g. varroa.


Sincerely

Tom Barrett
49 South Park, Foxrock
Dublin 18
Ireland
Tel + 353 1 289 5269