--- Keith Malone <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hi Allen & All,
>
> > This new(?) information is especially interesting
> for those of us who think
> > we can breed bees by looking at natural drop
> boards and rejecting hives with
> > big drops.  It is not that simple.  We could be
> rejecting the best varroa
> > fighters,

Also, you may be inadvertantly rejecting genetically
inferior  strains of varroa that are clumsy and can't
maintain a good grip. ;>)

,,, correct me if I am wrong --
> that Dee also believes that
> using small cells (4.9) encourages that trait.  I
> have heard others, here
> and there, some with small cell and some with
> ordinary cells, observing
> varroa removal, too.

Allen, I am seeing varroa removal, grooming,
uncapping,,,.  I've been small cell for a few years,
and I  am noticing traits being enhanced,   especially
in the cleanliness and hygienic areas.  I might
hypotheses that the traits coming forward my be in
part due to seemingly better nutritional foraging
abilities by smaller bees, ~OR~ the foraging abilities
a result of the traits coming forward ie. healthier
bees from enhanced traits benefiting overall health
and subsequent better communication and foraging
resulting from.  Ref.(Apiculture 2 (1) 2003 "A further
weakening of the Honeybee")  IMO, it will be difficult
to untangle the web so as to  determine the actual
cause and why small cell works so well.


=====
Joe Waggle ~ Organic Beekeeper,  Derry, PA
'Bees Gone Wild Apiaries'
"Using humane and holistic beekeeping methods"
~ Small Cell Beekeeper ~ No treatments since 2001
~ GO STEELERS!!!



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