Re HSC trial.

This wasn't a small cell trial!  It was a trial of HoneySuperCell
fully drawn plastic frames.  They do have small cells, but I don't
know if that was the reason for the slower mite buildup.

I think that some may be reading too much into this.  In my neck of
the woods, we are seeing colonies collapse with low mite levels, and
no nosema.  It appears to be viral, and dependent upon having some
mites.

The HSC colonies entered winter with (apparently) fewer mites, based
upon the indirect measurement of natural mite fall.  I did not confirm
with a direct measurement, since I expected the colonies to survive
winter.

The control colonies crashed first when cold weather hit (a common
observance);  the HSC colonies followed not too long after.  I doubt
that the crash, or lack thereof, had anything to do with cell size,
but more with mites and viruses.

On the other hand, HSC appeared to greatly suppress mite buildup,
possibly due to cell size.  This fact might be of interest to
beekeepers who wish to minimize mite treatments.

Dee, I'd be happy to let the survivors run the course if it looks like
they have a chance.  I will check mite levels next visit.

Although I admire the goals of the organic beekeepers, I doubt that
many commercial beekeepers would be eager to sustain heavy losses in
order to further "the cause."

However, those beekeepers may be interested in any biotechnical method
that reduces mite buildup such that only minimal natural chemical
treatments would allow them to keep their operations afloat.

I've spoken today with some large commercial beekeepers.  These are
smart guys who have successfully kept bees for many years.  They
invested more work and effort in their colonies this year than ever
before.  Yet some of them are just watching their bees die and die and
die.  I am still shaken from hearing their despair and frustration.

Nosema ceranae is running rampant in some operations-- these guys are
calling me and buying scopes to do their own testing.

Others let mites get a bit too high midsummer, and paid the price
months later with viral collapses.

Some are not sure what is hurting them.

I do not feel that their problems are a reflection on their beekeeping
methods, since they successfully ran great bees even a few years ago.
They haven't changed anything.

Problem is, nature changed.  We've got new parasites and viruses.  Any
beekeeper who hasn't changed their management to reflect this is
likely going to have problems.

Small cell beekeepers are not immune to this.

Randy Oliver
Watching good beekeepers struggle

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