Small cell is part of the whole. It is NOT the ONLY thing changed, it IS
the FIRST thing changed.
There are 3/3rds of the program. Environment, Nutrition and Genetics.
They all go hand in hand and augment either other, no one thing being
complete without the other slices of the pie.
Cell size falls into Envirnment, and effects nutrition and genetics. It
effects nutrition by broadening available floral sources. This in turn
effects environment again, because flora not previously taking advantage
of a larger array of bee visitation are now being pollinated more
regularly and so the environment develops which further increases
nutrition again.
Cell size DOES do one thing directly, however it doesn't effect all
queen lines, and this is where genetics comes into play. Small Cell Bees
care for brood differently. When mites are present in small cell worker
brood cells, small cell worker bees will open the cell, and kill the
mites (and the bee pupae as a result). This is the beginning of the
genetic pie. Not all queen lines will do this and so they will not be as
productive as lines that do, whether they die out or not, the smart
beekeeper is not likely to split from this hive if they allow a weak
hive to continue or not. Genetics also involve how well the bees adapt
to their environment and the seasonal ebb and tide, and whether they can
deal with natural extremes in the environment, poor seasons, cold
winters, hot summers, dearth and drought, etc etc. The queen lines that
can't handle these things will as before remain weak and therefore not
intentionally propogated if they are able to even survive.
It's a "whole" beekeeping ideology and method, not just one thing or
another. Small Cell is one of the names of the "whole beekeeping"
methodology, however cell size is ONLY the beginning, but it's the most
important part of the program as the rest will only come because of it.
--
Scot McPherson
The McPherson Family Honey Farms
Davenport, Iowa USA
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---
|
