>
> >Randy the only question I have is the removal or equalizing of naturally
> collected pollen in the test hives.


Thanks, Dave.  l plan to purchase trapped pollen from a pesticide-free
source, and then have it spiked or not, and then fed to the colonies.  I
would not touch or manipulate other pollen in the hives, which would be
little, due to the natural pollen dearth at that time of year in my area.

Does that answer your question?

My main question to the List is whether all agree that the feeding of
spiked/unspiked pollen each week for 9 weeks during a pollen dearth would be
an appropriate method of exposing colonies to the pesticide.  I can't think
of any better practical method.

In a tunnel trial, bees were fed shaken corn pollen from treated/untreated
plants, ground up and dry outside the hives, such that foragers would gather
and pack into cells.  This is a more natural process, but then you are not
dealing with a real-life situation.

I am currently squashing and viewing the gut contents of some 3000 bees in a
pollen supplement feeding trial.  I can assure the List that fed pollen
patties are widely distributed in the guts of bees in the hive (I am
quantifying the proportion of bees with the supplement on each frame, and
whether the bees are over honey, pollen, or brood).  Based upon this data
(soon to be published), I feel that the feeding of spiked pollen would be
appropriate.

Randy Oliver

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