This message from [log in to unmask] was sent to me and has not 
appeared on the list since the original quoted the entirety of the previous 
post (mine).

Messages that carry unnecessary quotes are usually rejected without comment 
unless they are particularly good.

This one asked some good questions, and although they have been asked 
before, I'll address them.
---

> 1 are there any studies that show the economic threshold of small cell 
> bees or is it assumed to be the same as large cell bees.

Small cell bees is not a category that is easily identified and studied, 
since some 'small cell bees" are normal bees that have been forced to raise 
brood in artificially small cells (and apparently, to some extent at least 
their immediate descendants).  Other "small cell bees" are bees that 
naturally make smaller cells (under 5.0mm?).  An example is AHB in the 
Americas and scutellata in Africa.  Moreover, there is no general agreement 
on thresholds for honey bees, since it varies with strain, locality, season 
and other factors.

> 2 small cell bees produce more bees per frame why do pollinators not go to 
> this even if it does not control varroa.  I do not know if it does or does 
> not control varroa.

True.   Good point.  The criterion that pollinators use is the total number 
of bees in the hive and entrance activity.  It stands to reason that bees 
that are smaller might well have a smaller frame count with the same number 
of actual bees.

> 3 why can ahb not be bred to be used commercially the original stocks of 
> bees in the united states were more hot and had more swarms than they are 
> now.

This is an interesting question.  At present all AHB is stigmatized, 
regardless of strain or degree of Africanization.  The matter is somewhat 
technical and under study, since studies I have heard discussed 
(unpublished?) seem to indicate that controlling the degree of 
Africanization and dividing the good qualities from the bad is something we 
do not understand sufficiently to manage with confidence.  I think that 
ultimately this will happen, though.  See also the Tabor importation and 
distribution discussion in the archives.

> 4 if dee lusbys bee buisness has no commercial application how has she 
> been in buisness for over 25 years.  buisnesses do not stay in buisness 
> that way.

Although I believe I know the answer to that question, that is something you 
would have to ask Dee herself.

> Thank you Eric Slayton

Thanks for asking.

allen
 

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