Pheromone Increases Honey Bee Colony Growth

[scrooster]

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science...wth/index.html

The application of a naturally occurring pheromone to honey bee test colonies increases colony growth resulting in stronger hives overall, according to a new study conducted by scientists at Oregon State University and Texas A&M University.

The study, which appeared this week in the journal, PLoS ONE, comes amid national concern over the existence of honey bee Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) – a combination of events that result in the death of a bee colony. The causes behind CCD remain unknown, but researchers are focusing on four possible contributing factors: disease, pests, environmental conditions and nutrition.

[Michael Bush]

So rather than allow the natural checks and balances, which are controlled by pheromones, we will mislead the bees into thinking the situation is something else which they will respond to instead... I'm having trouble figuring out how this helps things...

[Cedar Hill]

What happens to the colonies when the given quantity of "naturally occurring pheromone" has decreased to its normal level? OMTCW

[scrooster]

Makes you sort of scratch your head but still, perhaps in very small doses?

[Brent Bean]

It’s interesting the choice of words “contributing factors: disease, pests, environmental conditions and nutrition”

They use terminology environmental conditions, instead of pesticides, they must not want to offend a sponsor.
Will we soon see another product for sale.