In a message dated 07/08/2008 10:07:39 GMT Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

I do not  understand why you need to keep bees on a
permanent location to raise  healthy bees. Please explain.
 
Amateur beekeepers move hives in small numbers short distances in the  winter 
when they are lightest and the weather is cold. By happenstance these are  
the conditions under which least subsequent health problems will arise.
 
Professional beekeepers will move hives in large numbers long distances  from 
spring onwards when they are building (have built) up and the weather is  
warmer.  By happenstance these are the conditions under which greatest  
subsequent health problems will arise.
 
Consider a single bee in a colony which has somehow (drifted in maybe) got  
N. ceranae or N. apis. Left alone she will ease her bowels away from the hive  
and, when her time comes, leave it to die. If she is shut in with 30,000 
sisters  for a couple of days or more in transit she will shit in the hive.  Her  
younger sisters will clean up the mess with their tongues. Their next job will  
be to feed the babies, using their, now contaminated, tongues.  While shut  
up in the hive in transit the older bees are rubbing shoulders with the younger 
 ones and any that happen to be carrying CPV will pass it on in this way.   
Arrived at their new site there will be lots of hives in close proximity  
(spreading them about adds to labour costs) and so disoriented bees (some  unwell) 
will be more likely to drift into neighbouring colonies, spreading  diseases.
 
The bees will arrive at their destination and will probably do an excellent  
job of pollination and maybe get some nectar as well. But the rot will have 
set  in.  A few moves down the road the accumulated damage will be enough to  
come to the attention of the beekeeper.
 
Chris








   

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