|
From: cslade777@aol.com
Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2000 20:43:16 EST
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@egroups.com
Subject: Re: Observations.
I can't resist adding my two
penn'orth to the conversation between David and
Dee on the matter of yellow bees being successful in a cold climate.
Wintering ability depends not
only on external matters such as weather, hive
position and type, interference by the beekeeper and other predators,
but
also to some extent on the genetically induced behavioral and
physical
characteristics of the bees. Colour of the abdomen is only one
among many
characteristics that may contribute to relative success or failure
in a cold
climate. Others may include shape of brood nest; inclination
to store pollen
and where it is stored, ditto honey; early/late brood rearing,
resistance to
pests and diseases, longevity. There are probably many others
also but these
are the ones that spring to mind.
A black abdomen may also be
an advantage. If anyone wants to prove this take
a black bee and a yellow bee, put them in the fridge for half
an hour to cool
down to the same temperature. Then place them side by side in
a sunny window
and see which flies first. If you're feeling really scientific
you can put a
stop watch on them and draw graphs to quantify the difference.
This may give black bees a
marginal advantage when gathering early pollen
from willows on cool days. On the other hand, bees that are really
well
adapted for cold climates may have stored enough pollen not to
need to go
outside on chancy days or will delay the expansion of the brood
nest until
the sun rises a critical few degrees higher in the sky.
I don't see that blackness
is a great help when in the winter cluster.
Pilosity (hairiness) is probably more helpful then.
I don't have access to Cooper's
The Honeybees of the British Isles at the
moment so I can't quote directly but I remember he mentioned
that while
somebody was selecting his bees by colour, the bees themselves
were selecting
for all the other characteristics of Amm which made them successful
in our
part of the world. It is possible that something of that sort
is happening
with Dave's bees if he is selecting from his survivors.
Isn't email wonderful in that
we can hold a conversation over 3 countries and
2 continents?
I wish a happy end and beginning
to the millennium to all.
Chris
|