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From: DeeALusby1@aol.com
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2002
22:15:17 EST
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: cell size measurement (Size of Queens)
I have to agree with a lot
of what has been written here on this post with
the exception of this one paragraph, which I feel I must comment
on.
In a message dated 1/9/02 10:20:55 AM Pacific Standard Time,
kytl@chevron.com
writes:
> Bees
raised on small comb can only differ genetically as they are
> selected for specific traits. This means culling the colonies
or
> queens that do not have the traits selected for.
First of all, I wish to say
that I select by a whole bee concept and not for
individual traits and there is a big difference by selecting
this way for
what you get in final outcome.
> For instance,
if we
> select for mite resistance, the mite susceptible colonies
are allowed
> to die naturally. Or we can do mite counts and select
for the low
> count winners; the colonies with high mite counts are moved
out of
> the breeding yard.
This to me is backwards thinking
from what I physically see in the field and
have tried to physically to others. You want the high mite count
hives during
broodnest change over periods and low count hives are losers
that end up
having problems. I want to see lots of mites on the bottom board
and being
chewed out at this time. To see nothing is an indication that
the bees cannot
handle the situation. The selection pressure is being placed
on the wrong
colonies at least IMPOV and the way we (I) handle the field for
what we are
doing.
> To get
more variable genetics most of us need to
> import a variety of stock (think of brother Adam) or pick
up feral
> colonies.
Reply:
I believe in picking up local feral colonies, but not really
the importing of
a variety of stocks. If importing of stocks, the stocks imported
should match
the area. This is very important. Matching the area to stocks
selected is not
practiced much anymore again IMPOV. Too much mongrel breeding
like with all
animals leads to harder to handle bees from many aspects. You
need
variability, but acclimitized variability from the local regional
area.
Regards,
Dee A. Lusby
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