From: RSBrenchley@aol.com
Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 12:07:57 EST
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: chalkbrood

Dee writes:

> Yes there was large cell foundation, but only in the late 1960s when 706 7/11
> foundations were introduced in the USA did chaulk appear in the early 1970s
> within a matter of 5-7 years. Here luckly we are not like Europe with many
> manufacturers. We are centralized with our manufacturing, and american
> beekeepers are known for not changing combs fast. This centralizing helped.
> Also WWII helped slow the phase-in of larger combs as used bigger and bigger
> in Europe.

I wonder whether this could be due to the use of antibiotics, rather than
cell size? TM must kill a great organisms other than foulbrood, and it's
possible that something might have been deterring the Ascophaera apis fungus.
It's just a thought, but it's possible.

Regards,

Robert Brenchley