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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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From:
"Bogansky,Ronald J." <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 7 Apr 2005 09:34:32 -0400
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My thanks to the NC beekeepers that responded to my "FreeBee" post.  It
does sound like a good program and I agree that anyone that follows
through on the commitment did earn the bees.  However, I don't think my
initial point was addressed.  There were 2700+ applicants of which 200
will receive packages.  I have to assume that some of the 2700 were
already beekeepers, but maybe not.  Either way that is a large number of
individuals "interested" in beekeeping.  Of the 2500 that will not
receive free bees, and are not already beekeepers, how many will still
take up beekeeping?  I don't know the number of beekeepers currently in
Pennsylvania.  I think there are 700+ that are members of the state
association.  Even if I triple that number to account for non members,
there are less beekeepers here than those interested in becoming
beekeepers in NC.  Again I have to say, if the only reason someone
starts keeping bees is because they are free, then how dedicated of a
beekeeper will they become?  To NC's credit, it does sound like they are
picking the best of the bunch.  I really wish them well and applaud
there effort.

Larry Krengel had an interesting point in that he expects at least some
of the bees to swarm thus getting Russian stock into the feral
environment.  I have been thinking about this type of situation for a
while.  There are a number of beekeepers reporting that they are not
treating for varroa and have been working with resistant stock (e.g.
Kirk Webster in Vermont, Charlie Harper in Louisiana, and others).  Even
the best beekeepers lose some swarms and these individuals are raising
queens therefore probably producing excess drones to ensure good mating.
Has there been an increase in the number of feral colonies in their
area?  You would expect overtime that the feral population would begin
to rebound in ever increasing circles around these operations.  This
would be one sure indication that the bees can truly survive and manage
varroa without treatment. To me this should be of some interest to the
researchers.  I don't think I have seen anything reported on this.

Thoughts?


   Ron

Ron Bogansky
Kutztown, (eastern) PA, USA

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