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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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From:
Peter Borst <[log in to unmask]>
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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 27 Apr 2017 15:38:47 -0400
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> Yet, the siren song of Seeley's work, and the oft-repeated statements about avoiding drift, etc.,  had me thinking over the winter about moving my colonies on to separate stands this summer. 

Yes, well, I think Tom is suggesting having many hundreds of meters between hives, mimicking what he sees in the northern forest. However, we know that densities often exceed this by several magnitudes, both in terms of colonies per hectare as well as proximity to each other. 

Traditional hives often occupy long walls of stacked pipes (Egypt) or packed cheek to jowl in bee houses (Slovenija). Probably dense apiaries are the rule, except where African bees are kept. And while I have limitless respect for Tom Seeley, the problems of apiary congestion might not be so problematic were pathogen levels lower.

My friend Randy points out that there have been die-backs in beekeeping, like anything else. Perhaps once these viruses run their course, we will wind up with stronger hives. People often point to the honey bee tracheal mite as a case where the impact was acute at first, but diminished over time. 

On the other hand, the idea of inter-colony communication as an emergent system is positively amazing.

PLB

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