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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
Peter L Borst <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 5 Jan 2012 16:48:48 -0500
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It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see hives do poorly around large areas
of corn in the Midwest and observe hives from the same winter holding yard do much
better in range country.

When the reports of CCD first came out and started to be plotted on maps, I thought at the time that if there was a correlation between regional land use and bee losses, it should be obvious for anyone to see. No correlations such correlations were ever made. Of course, the fact that bees are moved about makes it far more difficult to correlate losses with specific land uses, such as pasture, farming, suburbs, desert, etc.

I admit that I didn't think bees visited corn all that much, as it is a nutritionally poor food source. But alas, they seem unable to tell this, and when it is abundant they collect tons of it. In summer it may be their primary source of pollen if it's available. Fortunately, it may be mixed with legume pollens (clover, alfalfa, etc) which are much more nutritious. I certainly agree here that keeping bees around corn is a pretty risky business for many reasons, including chemicals. 

PLB

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