My mentor stresses the importance of raising your own locally adapted stock, and breeds his own bees.
What do we know about Varroa tolerant bees? None of mine had been treated for anything at all from 1975 until 1999. (I was frightened into using some terramycin in 1974) Some of mine haven't been treated for anything at all since 2001. Most of mine haven't been treated at all since 2002, and none of them have been treated since 2003. None of Dee Lusby's have been treated for anything since 1983 when they started regressing to deal with tracheal mites.
But I think Finsky knows there are more direct methods to achieving this, and I'd like him to elaborate.
So why not tell us how it is that we come about breeding our bees to get mite resistance?
-Jeff
We have no mite problem in Finland now.
We have no mite problem in Finland now.
I want to know why you still treat for mites if you don't have a mite problem.
[
What you are telling me is that your varroa problem is solved with various chemicals, not mite resistance.
The point that I am trying to get you to bring out is that these chemicals are not necessary.
The bees do have a genetic resistance and that can be tested for and bred into our own lines.
There are two types of resistance.
There is SMR (or smart bees as finsky referenced) and hygienic bees.
The difference between the two is genetics.
Hygienics is a recessive trait, it means that both mother and father must carry the trait.
Because both must have the trait, it is easy to loose the trait.
But since 1 in 10 bees generally carry the trait, its easy to find it again too.
There are 7 traits tied to hygienics, some to uncapping, some to grooming instincts.
So we as beekeepers can test for hygienics and saturate out yards with them.
This increases the likelihood of Hy-Queen and Hy-Drone matings.
Hygienics can be field tested in two ways.
There is the pin prick method, where you take capped brood and sewing needle and poke through the capping into the larvae killing it. You do this on 10 or 20 adjacent cells, place back in the colony and in 48 hours remove and count the cells cleaned out. A dot of paint over the set of cells help identify which set you used.
The second method required taking a chunk of brood out (like a cut-comb cutter) and freezing it for 24 hours to kill, but not moosh the brood. More than 24 hours will over freezing will cause false hygienic removal, so be careful. The chunk is reinserted and 48 hours is allowed to pass again. Then the cells removed are counted.
In either method, ideally you want more than 80% removal in 48 hours.
Queens not demonstrating this should be culled, and requeened with stocks that do demonstrate it.
Sue Colby of (soon UC Davis) Ohio State University, Marla Spivak or Unv. Minn and Glenn Apiaries in California, have great information about the topic. Glenn Apiaries even uses Medel genetic diagrams to explain the matings and cross matings. I would strongly suggest reading all of these if you want a good understanding of where genetics are today, and what to expect in the future. [/b]
This is what I was talking about Finski
You have the honour of speaking with a fellow beekeeper that is trying to help you suceed.
[And your referencies are....]
Ask anyone that is following the protocols described.
If a scientist didn't check it out then it don't work.
Hey, anyone have any good studies about screened bottom boards, maybe they don't work either?
I mean everything.
I would strongly suggest reading all of these if you want a good understanding of where genetics are today, and what to expect in the future.
Many have lost tens of hives with small cells.
Wild hives in natural cells die over 90% all over the world.
As I have asked before. If all those wild bees were lost then why is it so many of us are going out and getting them? As I mentioned I know off the top of my head where 10 feral colonies are right now. No wait... Now that I am thinking about it make that 12.
You are able to read reports from internet. They are not mine.
This has already been discussed on these forums before...... So you believe what is written on paper and I'll believe what I see with my own eyes.
It is a skill to learn from other people.....
You are not just "not an expert" but now you are an "idiot" too?
Gonna keep it short guys...
First Finsky, saying "Yes, that discussion is very funny. It is pleasure always to discuss with people who hate learning and education." INSULTS MANY (if not all of the MEMBERS - don't do this again.
For every person YOU assume can't follow your post, dozens are.
Secondly, Don't egg on other members by calling them on their education or experience - if you need to drop to a level of "what you call EQUAL EDUCATION" then you no longer are serving as mentor or guidance to members, you bully them. Bullying will not happen Finsky, I promise you that.
Lastly, You education and experience brings a METHOD of beekeeping to the table - one that works for you. For a guy without mite issues, you seem to have lots to say. Anyone Finsky can quote anyone else until they are blue in the face, it doesn't make you smarter, it just proves you know how to use a search engine and cut and paste.
Jeff shoots rubber bands at Finski....
Hi Finsky, How are you today?
Questions for you...
Did you lose any hives last winter or this winter?
Do you use solid bottom boards or screened bottom boards?
Do you make splits from survivor colonies or do you buy packages?
How many hives do you have?
Thank You...that is all.....for now....
I am still waiting for him to answer this post. :jail:QuoteHi Finsky, How are you today?
Questions for you...
Did you lose any hives last winter or this winter?
Do you use solid bottom boards or screened bottom boards?
Do you make splits from survivor colonies or do you buy packages?
How many hives do you have?
Thank You...that is all.....for now....
It's good Finsky has a fan club - he has worn me a bit thin lately, again - but that's Finsky, he is from a combative society of where people strongly debate even the simplest things - as in "was your coffee too strong?". This view of his homeland from Finsky Himself, they love the "tooth and nails" points of argument - thought you'd like a history lesson on Finland.
Be careful Finsky,
Also the best course I had in college was debate.
Priceless. Could you maybe send some sort of media attachment of you singing that one? I would treasure it along with my Yogi Yorgenson Christmas recordings.
Finsky,
Just look at our national preoccupation with TAKING OFFENSE and the need to extort grovelling apologies from the evil perpetrators.