In  Conversations on the BEE-L list  between Jim and Scot, Bob, Keith and
others it has now been said:

>  >> The bees recongize a worker cell that is infested with
> varroa  and
> >> they chew the cell out, pincing the varroa...
>
> > This behavior has been observed in bees on all cell
>  sizes.
>
> OK, so is the whole "downsizing" process really  nothing
> but the
> elimination of colonies that DON'T have the  hygienic
> behavior mentioned
> above?  If so, then this  should be a universal activity
> in "small-cell hives",
> one that  can be directly observed.

Reply
I would say that IMPOV that the universal activity in Small-cell  hives for
cleaning out/chewing out varroa, and accompanying secondary diseases  is
directly related to increased "Division of Labor" due to the increased  numbers of
workerbrood produced in a more compact broodnest area.

Enlarged bees on enlarged combs have fewer bees per a given area. So what
are those breeding hygenic bees actually doing then with field manipulatons and
selection for broodnest cleansing traits? Could they actually be then
retraining  honeybees to stay home and work inside?..........rather then gather
stores from  the field...........which then leads to smaller colonies of lesser
production  value? Has this point indirectly been said about resistant strains of
bees  capable of controlling mites? in that they control the parasitic
problem, but  need more work on production?

Since small cell bees means more bees, and more bees IMPOV means more
available bees,  for division of labor for ALL field and internal hive  needs, the
bees then need to control problems, since they cannot always be  eliminated,
then really what is Hygenic behavior and shouldn't it be relooked at  to what it
really is maybe? A learned trait? and inherited trait? with bees  having to
decide how to assign the work force for full potential in output which  then
shows what?.......intelligence? or just doing?

Sure would like to see some good rationalizing on this or
comments.................

Regards,

Dee A. Lusby
Small  Cell Commercial Beekeeper
Tucson, Arizona
_http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrganicBeekeepers_
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrganicBeekeepers)

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