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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
Christine Gray <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 19 Aug 2003 13:23:35 +0100
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Peter aked Jim : "Do you not agree that a bee colony from which you would have removed the potentially contaminated frame would also after removal of said frame still contain 9 other  potentially spore contaminated frames!  What benefit would be derived by the removal of only one frame from a AFB contaminated colony?"
> 
Isn't it a bit like dumping ALL your clothes in the wash daily if u get a heavy cold - but only replacing the hankie in your pocket weekly if u have no actual illness?  Yes, some endemic disease organisms remain on the inside of your pocket (or on the other combs) so that a low level of infection persists, but by cleaning out in rotation the main reservoirs where germs can hide, u keep the degree of infection hopefully below the level at which the bees' natural defences and immune system can cope.   

One noted UK bee inspector has long recommended renewing ALL the brood combs annually - and that is what I try to do in my Deep Long hive.  It is probably more than needed to curb the build-up of disease organisms - bi, tri or 5 yearly would probably do as well where a colony is coping - the main benefit comes from the large compact brood patches bees can rear on new comb (no mouldy pollen to clear, no distorted cells where cell bases were, no drone cells unless it is the right time of year (when the bees will build new ones),  just large unrestricted brood circles as the queen lays away without hindrance.  And the smell of the new yeasty combs is divine.  If the bees are given THICK fresh foundation, the additional wax the bees have to secrete is minimal - and secreting a little bit of wax is just part of growing-up for each bee. 

Robin Dartington 

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