Bob

I am not judging the benefit vs cost, just that it does transmissions/ 
invasions happen, legally or illegally.  While some invasive species  
have helped bees I would argue that the dangers to bees have  
eliminated any benefit we might eek out of a species let loose in an  
environment unprepared for it or with no natural enemies.

It is, usually quite rare to find a beneficial species that is invasive.

Richard Stewart
Carriage House Farm
North Bend, Ohio

An Ohio Century Farm Est. 1855

(513) 967-1106
http://www.carriagehousefarmllc.com
[log in to unmask]




On Dec 20, 2008, at 5:55 PM, Bob Harrison wrote:

> Richard wrote:
>> The easier and quicker you can transport goods the more likely it  
>> is  that we will see transmission of almost any variety of pest,  
>> disease,  virus, and the like...
>
> I agree however as was pointed out in an earlier post some new  
> arrivals are a benefit. We are now seeing what happens when we allow  
> the rest of the world to do our manufacturing for us. A constant  
> abundance of overseas containers enroute to our shores.  Many of  
> these sit at point of origin with open doors for days while being  
> loaded. All manor of species are imported. In Miami, Florida these  
> are stacked high for miles due to the fact it is cheaper to sell for  
> steel rather than return to China.
>
> Brazilian Pepper is out of control in Florida and is a wonderful  
> honey plant. Efforts to eradicate were a dismal failure. Has been a  
> tremendous boon for beeks.
>
> If you look at the article which I did for the American Bee journal  
> ( November 2005 pg. 899) you will see another boon for beekeepers in  
> the making. The weed is now in over five states ( several states on  
> both coasts) and out of control in Oregon. The weed  is a water  
> white honey producing weed which covers over a million acres in  
> Australia. Some call the week "Paterson's Curse" after Mrs.  
> Patterson which some say imported the beautiful purple weed for her  
> garden around a 100 years ago. Over a million acres covered in a 100  
> years.
>
> I traced the source of Paterson's Curse back to imported bird seed.
>
> Beekeepers call "Paterson's Curse" by the name "Salvation Jane" as  
> crops of water white honey ( 8-10 on the Pfund scale). To get an  
> idea of colors on the pfund scale (used by packers which ALWAYS  
> fight over water white honey which is used to make dark bakery grade  
> honey lighter) White is 17-34 and extra light amber is 34-50 Amber  
> is 85-114.
> Quite a bit of Argentine honey arrives in the high end of amber. The  
> normal packer *cut* for dark amber is two drums high end white mixed  
> with 8 drums of amber. The same color could be had with *one* drum  
> of "Salvation Jane".
>
> "Salvation Jane" ( E. plantagineum) Is very very drought resistant  
> which will be a boon for California beeks which have been fighting  
> drought in many areas the last few years. In Australia yields of  
> honey from "Salvation Jane" over 200 pounds are common.
>
> Failure of honey crops from  from "Salvation Jane" in Australia are  
> rare.
>
> Last century beeks were accused of importing the dreaded thistle.  
> Thistle is called thistle in Missouri but in some areas thistle is  
> called "Chapman's Honey Plant" for the beek blamed for the import. I  
> have not get thistle on my farm. Many spray after the seeds have set  
> which is a waste of time. I go into the pastures and cut the tops  
> off the plant and burn the tops in a burn barrel. Much more  
> effective than killing a plant which has already set seed.
>
> bob
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