Dee wrote to me

>Concerning irratiation for maladies occuring in pollen.........if it kills the problem with viruses and fungal, and bacteria for fouls, chalk, nosema etc........then to me it >kills the beneficial bacteria like with lactic acid bacteria for normal fermenting and digestion by larva and makes the pollen worthless for food for growing new >larva........

>Someone correct me if I am  wrong..........You irratiate the pollen you take, or pollen left in frames, or honey even, and then what good is it for food maintenance >of both young and adult bees in a beehive?

>Again, some one correct me if I am wrong. (Same for acid usage too, might I throw in.) We ahve been over this in the past..........and hence reason for no/zero >treatments stand.

This question was raised in Australia in the early 1990's when we started using irradiated pollen.  There was work done to show that the pollen was quite satisfactory for brood rearing.  It has been found since then that the storage life of pollen can be greatly enhanced by irradiation.  It has been used successfully in Australia incorporated into protein patties on pollen deficient honey flows to maintain brood.  If not feed, then the bees go broodless.  See www.honeybee.com.au/Library/ca.html 

Trevor Weatherhead
AUSTRALIA

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