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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
Bob Harrison <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 4 Dec 2006 10:07:43 -0500
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Hello Randy & All,
I have had many discussions with beekeepers in Germany about vaporization 
of OA. Use of OA in Germany goes back almost two decades.
I was told you needed no protection but try to keep from breathing the 
fumes.

Around two years ago beekeepers from Germany started reporting  beekeepers 
using OA had contracted a rare from of cancer. All the same type of cancer.
The last report I had heard was 6 had died. The update was on another list 
but could be found.

As with many things precaution is tossed to the wind until a problem comes 
up.

Those planning on using the vapor method need to wear a mask.

Also there are many tests which have been done on dribbling in summer. The 
effiacy is LOW! Most tests show 40-60% after three treatments with some 
brood and egg kill.

Night & day difference between a once a year winter dose and three summer 
doses.

Oxalic acid use around the world is not new news. Perhaps to many on this 
list. Formic acid use is not new news. Thymol is not new news. We have got 
a member of BEE-L which has used thymol for over a decade I believe.

All are soft treatments and temperature and timed treatment dependent. 
Controlling varroa is a never ending problem with the above soft 
treatments. You knock varroa back and hope varroa will not raise to a level 
at which no treatment will save the hive before you knock varroa back again.

Hedging your bet with varroa tolerant stock certainly helps with soft 
treatments.

I have got varroa tolerant bees which survive varroa without treatment 
which I would love if  a hobby beekeeper but are not of as much value to me 
to use in pollination and honey production. Placing varroa tolerance at the 
top of the queen selection list can hurt the commercial beekeeper in my 
opinion.

Despite claims wax contaimination is always a chance when any chemical is 
used in a bee hive. Reports of formic acid eating up the nails in bee 
equipment are already being heard out of Canada.

Off topic:
Several beekeepers have questioned my sanity in running a small cell 
experiment this season. Certainly not the first time! The main reason I try 
now when I did not before (other than a very small project) is that 
evidence has been mounting that I can place my prolific line of bees on 
small cell and see the same results. If you search the archives you will 
see the forty niners always said you needed a three part plan which 
included a certain bee and no artificial feeds.
Dennis Murriel & others have told me this has been disproven. A very large 
commercial beekeeper which has quietly converted all his hives to small 
cell has said the same thing. So the test will go on! Back to putting 
together frames and installing small cell foundation. I am running into 
problems with wiring as the foundation seems thin.

If I was to order another 25 pounds I would have Dadant run a thicker 
foundation or buy from a small beekeeper making and selling a thicker small 
cell foundation on the net. 

My first project years ago involved foundation sent me from South Africa 
and was used by those keeping AHB.


Sincerely,
Bob Harrison

"What we don't know is so vast it makes what we do know seem absurd"
 

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