Dennis,

The current flap on the BeeL is not much different than what you had to 
endure with the small cell zealots when you made your experiments.

I did bring you up as the only one who has shown small cell to work with 
good trials and supporting data, but even you have not postulated the 
why, only that it works for you. That is honest. To me, you are the 
voice of reason in the debate.

Plus, your research showed that uniform 4.9 was not the solution since 
the bees had a range of cell sizes.

What has been happening on the BeeL (and why some of us have just about 
given up on it) is the same sort of fervor that was around with FGMO. 
Lots of anecdotal evidence that it works but little in the way of good 
science that shows at least some universality. We are back in my pet 
sandbox (and others who no longer post but lurk) of a proper experiment 
with controls.

The variables that exist in keeping bees are plentiful. I could 
attribute my success to being on the Kennebec River and it is something 
in the water. Obviously, it is not. But on something like this list, I 
could post that and never have to prove it but could deride all who 
challenge me, especially if I had several other beekeepers on the 
Kennebec who also were successful..

Several have had success with small cells, but what other things are 
present? I have a good idea that one small cell beekeeper has AHB, or at 
least a mix of them and other bees. I would not follow that path. Some 
have excellent results with "feral" bees. But I know that AHB has made 
it up to Maine and that most of our "feral" population died off. So if I 
shift to feral bees am I only picking up the AHB mix brought up to Maine 
from Florida? In both cases I would be successful with small cell but 
that is because of the bee.

Is Varroa present in the area? I have had success because most other 
beekeepers in my area gave up. Any bees in may area are from my 
apiaries, so if I select feral bees I am only getting my latest swarm.

You have success in Wyoming (going on memory as far as your location), 
so would that translate to Maine? Are there other things you do that I 
do not which will cause a different outcome?

Much has been made about science and Theories. Theories are just that. 
They are unproven science but have enough validity to move them up a 
notch from speculation. They are also difficult to prove since they 
cannot be directly examined. Theories are not written in stone. 
Scientific Laws are. Theories are there to be tested, mostly indirectly. 
Small cell is not a theory but is speculation. The problem is, on this 
list, it is being treated by its adherents as a Law.

And there's the rub. Good science requires peer review and reproducible 
results. If a test is run at one lab another lab should get the same 
results. We really do not know if that is the case with small cell, 
especially on this list, since those who fail usually do not post. If 
they do, then I see the same response I saw with FGMO- you did not do it 
right. The truth was , with FGMO they did do it right and failed because 
of it, not because of their practices. Success with FGMO was more to do 
with other practices than with the oil. Those variables again.

Small cell may be the best approach to combat Varroa. You have gone a 
long way to show that it works for you and the techniques you used to 
demonstrate it. For that, many of us are grateful. Especially to see you 
posting again.

For those who do not know your work, is your website still active and 
would you post a link? Makes for good reading.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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