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Date: | Tue, 6 Aug 1996 21:08:59 -0500 |
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I have been wondering if any other beekeepers have observed =
the seeming mite resistance of colonies situated in attic, =
house walls etc. The writer lives in a cooperative community =
where there have been as many as five beekeepers in past =
years. While all have experienced typical colony losses we =
have observed that two colonies, one in the wall of an =
ancient stone structure and another in the roof of one of =
our homes have defied extinction. Both colonies have been in =
their present abodes as far back as I can remember. =
Most beekeepers have been impressed with the difficulty of =
either destroying or capturing colonies resident in =
structures. I had always assumed that the difficulty had to =
do with accessing the brood comb area or the likelihood of =
multiple colonies. Could there be some other factors?
Some things are fairly certain. These are very vigorous and =
healthy colonies. They are undisturbed. Their honey is not =
robbed. They do not have to wear out their wings constantly =
replenishing there supply of nectar. They are always well =
protected from the elements, especially moisture which we =
all know is a lot more difficult for them than the cold. The =
colonies I have been observing are situated in either the =
north side (the stone house colony) or in a highly shaded =
area ( the colony in the roof of one of our homes). I think =
it would be safe to assume that they need to expend far less =
energy heating and cooling their hive than if they were =
situated in an open area fully exposed to the sun, rain and =
wind plus having to cope with all the stresses that we =
beekeepers visit upon them. Could it be that we impair their =
ability to resists the onslaught of the predatory mites?
I lost all my colonies some years ago and gave up the =
hobby. I had decided that I didn=B9t want to use pesticides =
but we do a fair amount of community (organic only) =
gardening and so this spring I decided to try raising a few =
colonies. I Purchased two Buckfasts, one mysteriously =
disappeared after a week, but I suspect that they rejected =
the queen (which I found surrounded by a few workers near =
the hive entrance). Judging by the considerable population =
increase in the surviving colony, I suspect that the =
workers joined the surviving colony. =
The colony is in my old beehouse which I revised to conform =
with a method I found described in an old English beekeeping =
text and also referenced in a book by Mace. In order to make =
inspection for Varroa easier I have a slide at the bottom of =
the brood chamber for a white plastic tablet. The bottom of =
the brood chamber is simply =
fiberglass mesh. On hot days I can remove it to increase =
ventilation and for the top I have alternately some clear =
plastic, and a board with an a hole properly situated for =
either feeding or with a mesh insert for ventilation. I have =
been somewhat amazed at the vitality of the colony and the =
level of activity at the exit during a dismal summer here in =
the northeast (Bucks County, PA). Initially I did use =
Apistan as prescribed and inspections have not suggested any =
Varroa problem, but at 76 my eyesight isn=B9t what it used to =
be and I could be wrong. In any event I have decided not to =
rob them and to inspect them by indirect methods etc & I may =
resist using Apistan again. We need the bees in our garden =
more than I need their honey.
Has anybody made similiar observations about colonies =
situated in buildings?
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