How to Become the Best in the World at ......

[GregV]

The article is not about bees.
Technically, it is about benefits of having a set of generally good skills vs. only having a single skill at the "Best in the World" level.

This is, essentially, about the Russian bees as they don't really do anything exceptionally well.
And yet.

A good general read (about the pitfalls of pursuing ultimate specialization - in particular, including bee breeding projects for particular, singled-out traits).

It’s not about being great at any one thing — you just need to be pretty good at an array of useful skills that, when combined, make you truly one of a kind.

https://forge.medium.com/how-to-beco...g-f1b658f93428

PS: this, incidentally, underlines the ideas of "black box" management.

[Litsinger]

Technically, it is about benefits of having a set of generally good skills vs. only having a single skill at the "Best in the World" level.

Interesting article, GregV. This idea of 'skill stacking' makes sense to me- kind of like the axiom of, 'Jack of all trades, Master of none'?

Given that EHB's are often described as 'generalists', it seems like you might be on to something regarding survival success on the colony level being conferred by a broad skill set of solid (but unremarkable) traits.

[GregV]

Interesting article, GregV. This idea of 'skill stacking' makes sense to me- kind of like the axiom of, 'Jack of all trades, Master of none'?

Given that EHB's are often described as 'generalists', it seems like you might be on to something regarding survival success on the colony level being conferred by a broad skill set of solid (but unremarkable) traits.

Indeed, Litsinger.
Just the natural propensity of the EHB to breed as widely as possible suggests - the EHB are generalists by trade (just like rats or crows).
Pretty much all and any efforts to breed some "super bee" for any particular, single trait are wasted efforts (the idea reiterated many times over).

Well locally adapted (environment takes care of that for you) and otherwise average bee is really all you need.
Add to this very basic, common-sense disaster prevention techniques - should be a sustainable operation.

[GregV]

.......
A good general read (about the pitfalls of pursuing ultimate specialization - in particular, including bee breeding projects for particular, singled-out traits).

https://forge.medium.com/how-to-beco...g-f1b658f93428

Incidentally, these two documents are actually inter-related (while technically being in different domains).

Dr. John Chambers sent me a PDF advance copy (attached) of his presentation tomorrow at the 'National Honey Show' entitled, "Basic Honey Bee Genetics for Beekeepers".

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