Hi Herve and Everyone,

>I am afraid clean wax only does not prevent varroa reproduction
>nor varroas population increase.
>
>Hervé
>Laval, Qc, Canada
>
>
That's been my experience, as well, when my bees are on large cell size
comb. But small cell sized comb allows a colony to tolerate the mites.
Such a hive doesn't need mite treatments which would contaiminate the
comb. And contaiminated comb can cause lots of problems such as poor
overwintering, early queen supercedures, poor mating, lack of colony
vigor, poor spring buildup, etc.

When beekeepers first began switching to small cell comb, many observed
that the problems noted above disappeared. It was attributed to small
size of the cell/bee. But when I put small cell bees on clean, large
cell comb, they didn't develop those kinds of problems. They had all the
'advantages' of small cell EXCEPT MITE TOLERANCE(caps for emphasis). And
they required treatment to survive after the first season. I used oxalic
to keep the wax as clean as possible.

My web page states that, and anyone can read it at:

http://bwrangler.atspace.com/bee/sunr.htm

I appologize for any misunderstandings I may have created.

(now for my rant)
But I've had more than a little help along the way, for I have been
selectively quoted, out of context, in another post, by another
author(not Herve) on this list. My intent of those words quoted, were
180 degrees from what they were misrepresented as meaning here. And I
can't believe anyone who could read my webpage, would use my words, in
the manner they were used here, through an ignorance of the English
language.

Does such behavior make a person feel clever or superior? It might on a
college campus. But it would sure flunk out in a company of adults.And
it's a sure demostration of character. I know that such behavior isn't
constructive. It only causes problems, expecially on an international
level. And it wastes lots of time. Maybe, after all, that was the
author's intent.

Regards
Dennis

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