Recent content by Mike Bispham

Kill All the Wild Bees You're not a fan, then, of the widely-held understanding that natural selection for the fittest strains is the way organisms defend themselves against the ever-evolving disease environment; and that wild bees have already utilised this mechanism and are now showing clear...

post #25 fell certainly on stony ground, in one case at least! Anyway, what's your position on wild bees? Good thing? Bad thing? Are they the problem, or the solution? Will the problem become the solution?

...and some fell on stony ground...

Surely its worth investing in a little exploration and perhaps some experimentation for your own future? Wouldn't you rather have rudely healthy bees, and be able to take your pick of any number of similarly healthy swarms each year? You can't expect other people to do the job for you - but it...

Breeding Away from Pests and Diseases Hi Hivemaker, I reckon we all know few animals are troublefree. A bit like humans I guess. But as far as I know they didn't manage to reduce both wild and apiary populations by an estimated 80%, and keep them that way for the best part of two decades...

Wild Strains are the Best Hi Jez, It's not widely appreciated that your very own local wild bees are the very strains best suited for your area. They select constantly for the strains best able to thrive right there - in that climate, that flora. They possess the very essence of health in...

Wild Bee Comeback The boards and discussion lists are full of reports that wild bees are making a big comeback, in both the UK and US. Its great news, and we should be doing what we can to support a happy development. Mike (The Forbidden) Bispham http://www.suttonjoinery.co.uk/CCD/

Good sales patter; bringing in disease resistant genes is actually a fine aim for any beekeeper wishing to escape the dreary round of eternal medication. There is nothing wrong in wanting self-sufficient stock, and wild bees are the only place you'll find it. Mike

Wild bees everywhere are becoming tolerant of varroa due to natural selection. This can be taken advantage of, and selection for resistance can be practiced in apiaries in most localities, resulting in resistant stock. Some people appear to not want you to know about this... Mike