Beecome2021 conference is live

local_beekeeper · Nov 20, 2021

Many interesting talks today and tomorrow

https://lyson.com.pl/beecome2021/index-en.html

Erichalfbee · Nov 20, 2021

Yes I’m registered. Just got to find time. Stan has the laptop for the rugby

Murox · Nov 20, 2021

Me too. this lecture at 3:45 pm - Is it possible to breed bees with varroa resistance traits? – dr hab. Małgorzata Bieńkowska - might well be interesting.

Erichalfbee · Nov 20, 2021

Report please?

Murox · Nov 20, 2021

Erichalfbee said:
Yes I’m registered. Just got to find time. Stan has the laptop for the rugby

Kick him into touch and grab it

Murox · Nov 20, 2021

Erichalfbee said:
Report please?

Damn - forgot the time difference - joined it to find its well underway.

Well--- I arrived late to the party and missed a great chunk – selective breeding had been done and the focus of the lecture was as a reportage of the study. The message seemed to be careful monitoring and continual assessment of all the various hygienic traits and behaviours such as mutual grooming and self grooming, uncapping and recapping behaviours and how quickly that was done after a pin test. Size of cells was not crucial there was another factor in play. The greater the hygienic behaviours in general terms the better the overall health of the colony – varroa being a virus vector – so less varroa equaled less viral issues which in turn led to better productivity. It was pointed out that the costs involved in breeding vsh stock was significant and in europe the prices of queens did not really cover the costs of producing them - varies by country and labour costs.

The Q&A session was short topics ranged from the importance of pollen sources for a colony to pesticides. Future development of bees seen as crucial in tackling varroa rather than depending upon drugs/medicines. If you have to use them though choose those which negatively affect the bees and honey and wax the least.