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It was the folly of Finman calling me names on two threads because he doesn't understand what Im saying. That was the best I could do without swearing, sorry guys. I think he bears a grudge against me because I don't want to keep bees his way and that im looking for possibilities amongst the...

Thanks P-Bee! I'd love to know what the exact mechanisms are for those bees survival. Although once again Finman, you have started to resort to name calling. I am aware that those traits belong to the African bees but Im trying to find if those adaptations would be viable in the European honey...

Thats very good information Finman, thanks! Hmmm do you have any suggestions why smaller European honey bees would be more resilient against varroa then? I still agree with you and don't think cell size is a factor. Bees at their natural size on their own comb in a less stressful environment...

There are breeders encouraging hygienic behaviour in western honey bees. And a few that have successfully bred bees with all variations of the behaviour. A trait that I think was observed in the Asian honey bee first. As far as I have discovered the main traits for co-existing with varroa are...

Ok Im going to throw another complete spanner in the works here and say that the Lusby's work wasn't about artificially shrinking the bees, it was about finding a cell size closer to your particular bees natural cell size. Every race of bees are different sizes. I posted the original question as...

Do you use any natural comb hives Finman?

Could you measure across ten cells in the brood area for me next inspection please Mad?? Im not 100% but I imagine the lack of habitat, insecticides etc, forest management. I lived abroad for many years, when we first moved back I was astonished at the lack of trees and woodland let alone the...

Hi guys!! I've been looking in to factors that strengthen colonies and improve bees tolerances and improve performance. After looking extensively at small cell options and natural comb it got me to thinking that bees on their own natural comb would be their natural size. Has anyone seen any...

Us small time guys have the ability to look at the things that affect the bees because we have the time and don't incur the costs that people with larger operations would. Many people doing a little can add up to a lot though and would benefit us all. Damn it I sound just like a bloody nature lover!

Does anyone keep an eye on varroa infestation levels and publish them??

That's really very true! I definitely don't think bees should be left to fend for themselves till we think they have half a fighting chance. Have you tried any alternate methods of varroa treatment? If you have, did you have any positive findings??

I didn't say anybody relished using chemicals. I think every beekeeper would love to be keeping bees as close to how they would naturally live as possible. I did say that we should try other methods simultaneously. Nobody can afford to put all their eggs in one basket.

Sorry, poor choice of words. I meant that varroa are building a resistance to some treatments. Trying to emphasise that because we a have a treatment method that works for now, doesn't mean we should sit back and wait till its too late act. There must be some inbetweens unlike Finman and me haha...

Finman, unless you have successfully mapped the Bee genome your academic abilities are kind of worthless. I'm not saying I have the answers. I have a starting point and great motivation. The bees tolerance or resistance to varroa may be something genetic or behavioural or something as simple as...

Well the miticides are failing........so we can carry on a losing battle along the chemical treatment route or simultaneously encourage open breeding and chemical free hives. It's the only way here in the uk we can simulate natural breeding and selection. Hopefully the Bees can sort it and we...

And we reveal the problem! Haha

3 guys, 3 hives. Worst case scenario is we lose one hive and I have to work on my brothers. I hate sharing too! Lol No body answered my question though........who is going chemical free and pushing for varroa resistance??

Survivor Stock Hey! I can see this is an old thread............Poly Hive, MBC, have you guys committed your 25%s?? We're starting this year. 3 guys, 3 hives and 1 is going chemical free and small cell. God knows what will happen. But I'd like to know who really is going to commit to survivor...