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Date: | Fri, 5 May 2000 10:20:23 -0700 |
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Venturing where I may not belong: it seems very possible to me that
distances which otherwise would seem insurmountable to the foraging bee
would not be a barrier if wind conditions were right. It would take only
a few bees to carry VM to uninfected colonies. A colonizing swarm could
very well be dispersed and never manage to establish a viable family even
while individuals infiltrate and infect resident hives.
Anecdotal evidence for wind assisted dispersal (supported by the sudden
appearance of recognizable alien species) abound.
> Trevor Weatherhead noted:
> >We have a natural barrier by sea of 35 kilometres (about 22 miles) between
> >islands that the Asian bees (Apis cerana) from Papua New Guinea have not
> >breached.
Direction of seasonal prevailing winds would also be an important factor.
> Santa Cruz Island, offshore from Santa Barbara, CA, has had Apis
> mellifera for more than 125 years (brought out by a beekeeper at that
> time). Santa Rosa Island, less than 10 km west, has never had honey bees
> --- despite the short distance between those islands.
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Richard Yarnell, SHAMBLES WORKSHOPS | No gimmick we try, no "scientific"
Beavercreek, OR. Makers of fine | fix we attempt, will save our planet
Wooden Canoes, The Stack(R) urban | until we reduce the population. Let's
composter, fly tying benches | leave our kids a decent place to live.
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