From: "From the Gussow's of Tucson,Arizona - Don't worry it's a dry heat!" <joslylaine4@mindspring.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2001 22:09:00 -0700
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: RE: Hygienic behavioror or restarting with 4.9 is that a real question?

This brings up an unusual point could you have both 4.9 and hygienic
behavior? Why does it have to be either or and not along with hygienic
behavior. If you regress down and improve hygienic behavior simply because
of cell size.

Hygienic behavior has a lot to do with the other diseases that plagued
honeybees for decades on large size cells. Even then there was questionable
cell size as being a part of the problem of over engineering nature for
mankind's benefit. Hybridization followed the large cell size which I
suspect was the reason for the standards being enlarged in the first place.

I am sure that you will understand that the generic bees are unaffected by
hybridization was a high-tech issue in the early parts of the 20th-century.
It is very much like it is today when you can manipulate the DNA code to the
benefit of feed corn producers. It was never to be distributed into the
human food distribution pipeline. I don't eat at Taco Bell!

When you consider the alternatives of the chemicals that you put inside a
hive or the cost of 4.9 foundation I' ll takes a cost of 4.9 foundation
every time. At some time or another you will have to replace your brood
chamber foundation anyway. Since the foundation that we're talking about is
in limited production it will be stabilized until/or increased to economy of
scale it is dependent upon retooling. A sheet of Dadant "small cell"
foundation across no more than a $1.10 per sheet which is the standard size
for deep frames. This is of course if you don't melt down your old wax and
send it back to Dadant for reworking charges of course.

What is the difference? The hygienic bees are always sought after in the
first place aren't they? Small bees with hygienic traits would be even more
sought after? The fact is we all want that to fight off the vampire mites
don't we? Making an unwelcome beehive to those parasites should be sought
after should it? We shouldn't overlook productivity of the honeybees as
well but in the opposite direction that the 20th-century tried shouldn't we?
Considering 4.9 foundation allows bees to find their own comfort level in
the design of their own architectural device shouldn't that be desirable for
all concerned?

Respectfully Submitted

Harvey (new-bee, 4 9'er)