> In particular, they mention that migratory beekeeping practices are
stressful to the bees.

Pete, I feel that the word "stress" is often anthropomorphically projected
upon bees, and often overused.  The paper that we are referring to involved
migratory beekeeping in Greece, a country which is far too small for long
hauls to which you are now referring.

> Even moving colonies short distances for pollination or honey production
is well known to cause the bees to become upset

I do both regularly, including a few moves this week.  With proper
technique, it appears that the bees barely notice that they've been moved,
and begin foraging immediately, often returning with pollen loads before I
have the truck completely unloaded.

I'm not saying that long-haul, multiday trips are without stress, but I
disagree with the sort of  blanket statements used by the authors.


, so moves taking days and over thousands of kilometres would be expected to
be stressful on the bees, as well as on the beekeepers.

>



> >so one can suggest that a colony of bees being whipped across two or three
> time zones in a quick move would be subject to some stress.
>

I've observed Aussie package bees shipped from summer to winter, with a half
day jet lag, from hot to snow, shaken from their combs and given a new
queen, get right to work as though nothing unusual happened!

>
> >That transport in and of itself causes colony death and the CCD Working
> Group reports that 10% to 30% losses are “not uncommon” as a result of
> moving colonies for pollination.
>

How would transport cause colony death?  It may cause queen loss, or
initiate a virus or nosema epidemic, but cause colony death?  I doubt that
many migratory beekeepers experiencing 30% losses remain migratory
beekeepers for long.

Randy Oliver

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