Lusby,ABJ - July 1996
I find myself in a position of having to write a field review showing the economic importance of a research article "Natural Suppression of Honey Bee Tracheal Mites in North Dakota: A Five Year Study" which was recently published in the May 1996, American Bee Journal, written by Erickson, et al., 1996.
Having made and supplied the small diameter foundation used in this five year study, my husband and I were naturally drawn to reading the finished research article that appeared in the May 1996 issue. However, upon reading the article, several questions were raised in our minds that dictate further work required in the field.
While we ourselves do not believe that this was a true test study to determine the long-term effect of small vs. large comb cell diameter foundation on the incidence and population dynamics of honey-bee tracheal mites (HBTM) in commercially managed colonies per se, which I will expand upon shortly, we do indeed believe that this study is of MAJOR ECONOMIC FIELD IMPORTANCE for commercial beekeepers trying to make a living during hard times, where profit margins are tight.
We do not believe that this was a true test study to determine HBTM infestation differences between varying small and large cell diameter foundations because:
1. During the course of the study, replacement queens were incorporated into the treatment groups by the beekeepers, requeening queenless colonies using daughter queens reared from superior stock from their "other apiaries". This means that the colonies on the small brood comb cell diameter were at a disadvantage, by having to periodically acclimatize their bees to re-accommodate the small diameter comb.
2. During the course of the study only, weak colonies were simply united with medium strength colonies for over-wintering and both treatment groups were kept in the same beeyards. In the spring, the colonies from the different treatment groups were split apart again and requeened. This means that new colonies were constantly being created and replaced and mite-loads were being equalized to some extent. Again the disadvantage is to the honey bees kept upon the small diameter cell foundation which would be in periodic stages of re-acclimatizing throughout the study.
We believe that both of the above practices by the beekeepers throughout the study raise questions as to the accuracy and dependability of the outcome presented, relative to the incidence of true HBTM infestation levels, throughout the course of the five-year study concerning the long-term effect of small vs. large brood cell diameter foundation, with their accompanying honey bees, on the incidence and population dynamics of HBTM in commercially managed colonies. We believe that a more accurate study upon the incidence of HBTM infestation levels concerning small vs. large brood comb cell diameter foundation on the incidence and population dynamics of the mites in commercially managed colonies would have been better served using true small caste honey bees along with the small diameter brood comb foundation vs. large caste honey bees along with the large diameter brood comb foundation, with requeening accomplished with queens indicative to each group.
We do, however, believe that this is the best research article that we have seen published in many years that gives an answer to an old question. "DO BIGGER HONEY BEES MAKE MORE HONEY?" For many decades, since the first invention of comb foundation by Mehring and the idea by Professor Baudoux that honey bees could be made bigger and improved upon, contrary to the laws of God and Nature, to make more honey, this fact that bigger makes more honey has never truly been proven.
The data presented by this study would seem to substantiate that indeed, honey bees on naturally sized small comb foundation, even with periodical acclimatizing problems due to requeening with larger caste queens and carrying HBTM loads in commercial operations, do indeed make more honey.
We believe that the data presented in Table 2. Average weight of honey produced per colony: 1989- 1994, shows highly significant trend differences that merit further investigation of HIGH ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE TO SERIOUSLY MINDED BEEKEEPERS OPERATING ON TIGHT PROFIT MARGINS.
To wit, reference Table 2 reproduced here again to review.
I find myself in a position of having to write a field review showing the economic importance of a research article "Natural Suppression of Honey Bee Tracheal Mites in North Dakota: A Five Year Study" which was recently published in the May 1996, American Bee Journal, written by Erickson, et al., 1996.
Having made and supplied the small diameter foundation used in this five year study, my husband and I were naturally drawn to reading the finished research article that appeared in the May 1996 issue. However, upon reading the article, several questions were raised in our minds that dictate further work required in the field.
While we ourselves do not believe that this was a true test study to determine the long-term effect of small vs. large comb cell diameter foundation on the incidence and population dynamics of honey-bee tracheal mites (HBTM) in commercially managed colonies per se, which I will expand upon shortly, we do indeed believe that this study is of MAJOR ECONOMIC FIELD IMPORTANCE for commercial beekeepers trying to make a living during hard times, where profit margins are tight.
We do not believe that this was a true test study to determine HBTM infestation differences between varying small and large cell diameter foundations because:
1. During the course of the study, replacement queens were incorporated into the treatment groups by the beekeepers, requeening queenless colonies using daughter queens reared from superior stock from their "other apiaries". This means that the colonies on the small brood comb cell diameter were at a disadvantage, by having to periodically acclimatize their bees to re-accommodate the small diameter comb.
2. During the course of the study only, weak colonies were simply united with medium strength colonies for over-wintering and both treatment groups were kept in the same beeyards. In the spring, the colonies from the different treatment groups were split apart again and requeened. This means that new colonies were constantly being created and replaced and mite-loads were being equalized to some extent. Again the disadvantage is to the honey bees kept upon the small diameter cell foundation which would be in periodic stages of re-acclimatizing throughout the study.
We believe that both of the above practices by the beekeepers throughout the study raise questions as to the accuracy and dependability of the outcome presented, relative to the incidence of true HBTM infestation levels, throughout the course of the five-year study concerning the long-term effect of small vs. large brood cell diameter foundation, with their accompanying honey bees, on the incidence and population dynamics of HBTM in commercially managed colonies. We believe that a more accurate study upon the incidence of HBTM infestation levels concerning small vs. large brood comb cell diameter foundation on the incidence and population dynamics of the mites in commercially managed colonies would have been better served using true small caste honey bees along with the small diameter brood comb foundation vs. large caste honey bees along with the large diameter brood comb foundation, with requeening accomplished with queens indicative to each group.
We do, however, believe that this is the best research article that we have seen published in many years that gives an answer to an old question. "DO BIGGER HONEY BEES MAKE MORE HONEY?" For many decades, since the first invention of comb foundation by Mehring and the idea by Professor Baudoux that honey bees could be made bigger and improved upon, contrary to the laws of God and Nature, to make more honey, this fact that bigger makes more honey has never truly been proven.
The data presented by this study would seem to substantiate that indeed, honey bees on naturally sized small comb foundation, even with periodical acclimatizing problems due to requeening with larger caste queens and carrying HBTM loads in commercial operations, do indeed make more honey.
We believe that the data presented in Table 2. Average weight of honey produced per colony: 1989- 1994, shows highly significant trend differences that merit further investigation of HIGH ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE TO SERIOUSLY MINDED BEEKEEPERS OPERATING ON TIGHT PROFIT MARGINS.
To wit, reference Table 2 reproduced here again to review.
Table 2. Average weight of honey produced per colony: 1989-1994 |