Posted on 03/26/2016 5:34:13 AM PDT by Kaslin
The headline sure did not seem to relate to the total story of “collapse update”. It was, however, an interesting story.
Wow. An article I can comment on from firsthand knowledge.
The article is correct in part where it notes that neonics are not the issue. The big issue is still varroa and varroa related disease and hive weakness caused by varroa.
However, the article also failed to mention that lousy beekeeping practices and rotten forage caused by current ag practices are major contributing issues.
Not splitting a colony which has grown too fast or kill off replacement queen cells.
Being greedy and leaving inadequate honey (food reserves for overwintering)
Poor ventilation
Varoa mites(nasty little bastards)
Tracheal Mites
Hive beetles (gross)
Failing to re-queen after a 4th season.
The only ones impractical to try to fix are Varoa mites and hive beetles. It's best to kill off the hive, boil the wood-ware in water with lye, move to another location and start over again. I have also found recent successes by raising the height of my hives off the ground to about ten feet high. I use those folding portable deer hunting stands. This has eliminated my beetle problem, ventilation issues, and I have yet to get Varoa mites in an elevated hive. I noticed that swarms and wild colonies make their hives up in the trees or other structures from eight to forty feet up. I think being close to the soil invites all kinds of bacteria, bugs, parasites, damp dew every day / night, and such.
I want to hear more about the bee “medium.” She sounds like a fun gal to party with ... if you can get her down out of her tree.
Just wanted to add to this. If you care about the bees, do not destroy your first bursts of dandelions in early spring. (not a rich source, I know) This is the first blooms feeding for a lot of bees. After the first flush, do what you must but leave the first for the hungry bees.
Since my son discovered that bees like celosia, he wants to plant them in all the flowerbeds so that we have a yard full of busy little bees.
On-topic, the misuse of science by anti-science Luddite leftists is nothing new. “Organic” foods, the use of “supplements” as pharmaceuticals, anthropogenic “climate change,” the majority of nutrition fads—all are examples of the misuse of science to push an agenda.
Honestly, I wish that conservatives were distinctly better in this area, but they are not. Sometimes, they push a different agenda with pseudo-science, and other times, they are in lock-step with the leftist agenda.
Wow. Excellent. Makes total sense. I really miss the bees around here (eastern PA).
I’ve been asking this for years, you may be able to help. One time only, around 20 yrs ago, I saw a 1/4 inch totally yellow bee. Bright, beautiful, pure yellow. Never saw one again and can’t find any info on it. Any ideas?
I started my first bee hive in Chestnut Hill, Montgomery County. That's on the edg-ish of North Philadelphia.
When the bee gets back to the hive, other attendant bees will help get it cleaned up of pollen. They are very good at cleaning each other up.
Dandelions and red maple bloom are the first end of winter meals for the bees. It triggers the queen to lay her eggs. The more dandelions and red maples, the more she lays her eggs.
Other than the bees, the red maple is the most worthless tree ever! It breaks at the drop of a hat. Attracts carpenter ants like a dinner bell. But still great for the bees.
And Global Warming too.
I’m no beekeeper but admire those that can do it. Yours was a good read! I finally saw a honeybee back in my yard towards the end of the season and noticed one yesterday. Hopefully the flowers, etc. that I do hav will keep them coming back.
HAHAHA1!
The small hive beetle is an interesting creature. It comes from sub Sahara Africa, buries its way through the honeycomb as a larva, leaves the hive and pupates in the ground away from the hive. The adult then flies around to mate & lay its eggs in any beehive available in the territory. It is small enough to sneak past the guard bees. One (at least , this one) would not expect these beasties to survive the winter here in east central Illinois, as the ground freezes and should do them in. However, I suspect some may overwinter as adults, eggs or larva in the cluster, allowing a fresh batch in the spring.
I remember when it was global warming’s fault.
Dubbed “colony collapse disorder” (CCD)... Mounting evidence suggests that today’s die-offs are primarily due to Varroa mites, along with parasitic phorid flies, Nosema fungal parasites, the tobacco ringspot virus... However, anti-pesticide activists and some news stories continue to blame colony deaths and other bee problems on neonicotinoid insecticides.Oddly enough, my first exposure to CCD being due to throat mites was via OG magazine, and books like "Carrots Love Tomatoes".
She may bee sweet at first; butt in the end; she’ll sting ya!
True, but it keeps her busy, even if she’s surrounded by drones.
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