> One of the most famous cases of the "elimination of ferals" was the Santa
> Cruz Island Reserve project, where Adrian Wenner tried and tried to
> eliminate all the feral colonies so as to return the island to an
> ecosystem that was 100% "native". The attempt did not fail - it succeeded
> with a little help from varroa.
Yes. We had a most pleasant visit with Adrian and his wife not too long ago
in Santa Barbara. He used to be a regular here. Haven't heard form him
lately.
> So, given an island of finite size and varroa, I'd wager that their odds
> are good, but no one ever takes my bets.
We hate to lose.
Jose's recent contribution though, gives us a hint what can happen in a less
limited environment with a larger gene pool.
> In beekeeping, the odds are good that the goods are odd. :)
And the odds are odd, too.
allen
http://www.honeybeeworld.com/diary/articles/broodframes.htm
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To have doubted one's own first principles is the mark of a civilized man.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (1841 - 1935)
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