Hello All,

> However, they have become so hot that they are now "untouchable" and I
mean, untouchable in full beekeeping coveralls wearing a Sheriff's bee veil
and leather gloves.

I have had many discussions with queen producers and commercial beekeepers
raising queens in Texas.

Normally if a pure EU queen open mates with AHB drones (which happens more
than you would think) the workers are somewhat hot but workable

Tens of thousands of queens are raised and open mated by commercial
beekeepers in the Carthage and Jasper areas of Texas  every spring. Raised
from *cells* bought from other commercial beekeepers selling cells AND from
commercial queen producers.

Has been going on ever since beekeeping started (and AHB arrived).

The problem of hot bees  (in my opinion) such as wrote about here is caused
by AHB genetics in the queen line but could be simply from an open mating.
Only a lab could say for sure.

In defense of the Weaver's they have always protected their queen lines (I
have been told) and keep marked numbered breeder queens.

Our bee labs have said for over ten years that if open mated in Texas you
run a chance of AHB genetics. The same will apply to both Florida and
Southern California before long (if not already).

My advice in this situation spoke of would be to kill the hives and inform
the Texas queen producer of the problem.

The current map of AHB spread has changed faster than one can imagine over
the last three years.

We need U.S. queen and package producers to survive. Think of their plight.
If they can keep the AHB genetics out of their queen lines then I think they
can stay in business. Instead of choosing their best queens from their own
stock the future lies in using only II breeder queens ( numbered)from a
reliable source and try to saturate desirable drones in mating yards.

A few AHB matings will happen and those queens will be shipped. Possibly the
queen producer could refund the money or ship another package BUT the first
hot package should be depopulated in my opinion.

Commercial beekeepers all over the U.S. are dealing with "hot bees". If you
are going to keep bees and bring packages & queens into your yards from
areas of  known AHb infestation then you need to be prepared to deal with
the "hot hive" from time to time.

Only a serious problem in my opinion when you do not take the steps to
eliminate the problem.

The beekeeping world in the U.S. is changing and we must adapt.

Even I dream of the way beekeeping in the U.S. was when I started but not
coming back. We must adapt to the new problems.

I can't end with out saying:

For the future of beekeeping in the U.S. please be part of the solution and
not part of the problem. Be a responsible beekeeper!

Get rid of those "hot" genetics and keep foulbrood out of your hives!

Sincerely,
Bob Harrison

-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and  other info ---