> Contrary to what some authorities on this board seem to suggest I do have > the notion that some California based breeders are selecting for bees that > respond well to a syrup bucket but are, at least in this harsh habitat, not > very hardy. i SUSPECT that experience in the commercial queen rearing > world is a factor that is quite often overlooked but does represent value. > > Hardiness is also a factor of 'productivity' that also seems to be > overlook or ignored... unless of course you are actively pursuing a > strategy of non treatment for varroa. > I was going to write a separate post on the issue of location and feeding, but this post summarizes the problem succinctly. All beekeeping is local. I seldom fed either in spring or fall and my bees did fine. But during that time we went through a long period of warm winters with great fall honey production and early springs. Now I am feeding and if I do not I will not have any bees in the spring. Global warming has hit and we now have cold winters (I love irony.) So I am "selecting for bees that respond well to a syrup bucket but are, at least in this harsh habitat, not very hardy". You better believe I am doing just that because I enjoy seeing live bees in the spring. Truth is, everything we do as beekeepers can fit in that condemnation. We breed bees in a box with man-made equipment and are about as unnatural as we can be when we raise our bees. I doubt if bees ever saw formic acid pads fall from the sky. To say that others who live in a harsh environment are not raising their bees correctly, compared to those who live in a bee paradise, is a bit judgemental and elitist. We should always check out the other beekeepers moccasins before passing judgement. Bill Truesdell Bath, Maine *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html