In a post on VSH stock, Peter said:-

>But more importantly, while little is known about epigenetic inheritance, 
>it is very likely that immune functions are transmitted from the adults to 
>the newborn bees.

Further, it may be possible to transmit these immune functions (beneficial 
bacteria, for example) from colony to colony via divisions.>

Words of wisdom!

So swarming enables bees to transmit their aquired strengths in life to 
their "offspring" by 2 mechanisms, the nuclear genetics of the queen, and 
the epigenetics (immunocompetence) of the colony.

Surely then, to give new colonies the best start in life, we should be 
emulating this by means of a good queen and an artificial swarm (ie package 
bees..no comb), since splits made with transferred comb run a far greater 
risk of transfer of pests and diseases. Thats the way the bees do it.

Of course, beekeepers large and small, have been doing this for a very long 
time. Science it appears, is catching up with experience!

PeterD
Western Australia
(where spring has 'sprung' at long last.)

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