indestructible bees

[Stiffy]

Hmmmm heard this before somewhere, what an old synic I am!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wi...-claims-to-have-bred-indestructible-bees.html

 

[Brosville]

Seems entirely reasonable to me, when Prof Ratnieks isn't "waggle dancing" for the media, he propounds the same......... I see no reason whatsoever that a wise and observant beekeeper shouldn't have discovered the same thing.

 

[Stiffy]

Seems entirely reasonable to me, when Prof Ratnieks isn't "waggle dancing" for the media, he propounds the same......... I see no reason whatsoever that a wise and observant beekeeper shouldn't have discovered the same thing.

As I said " I am an old synic" but I really do wish them the best of luck.
Maybe they will find a cure for the common cold at the same time!
Cheers
S

 

[oliver90owner]

Hmmmm heard this before somewhere,

Yep, you probably read the link I posted up last week (20th)!!

Newspaper journalists having little else to do, so have trawled the net for 'new' news?

Here is the link again, for those who have forgotten, or didn't read it. Probably less sensational than when the journalists get their hands on it!

http://www.moraybeekeepers.co.uk/Stanton_Park.htm

Regards, RAB

 

[Dishmop]

I have recently seen a film clip where a bee appeard to be trying to remove a mite form another bee. Not sure if this was a YouTube one or if it was in the TV prog about the people taking thier bees to the almond trees in California.

 

[Mike a]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSGa9DKraGA&feature=player_embedded"]Fighting off varroa[/ame]

Not a fan of any pan pipe music myself... But the video is an excellent example of the battle between these two.

Another video from the same Author [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv9_t_YBOKE&feature=player_embedded"]Wax Moth[/ame]

 

[aseeryl]

Hmmmm heard this before somewhere,

Yep, you probably read the link I posted up last week (20th)!!

Newspaper journalists having little else to do, so have trawled the net for 'new' news?

Here is the link again, for those who have forgotten, or didn't read it. Probably less sensational than when the journalists get their hands on it!

http://www.moraybeekeepers.co.uk/Stanton_Park.htm

Regards, RAB

Very interesting and readable article. I don't mean the Daily Mail article, it is the silly season after all. I'm only surprised that CCD, varroa and GOK what else isn't being caused by global warming. I suppose we'll have to wait for the "research has shown blah blah " scare-mongering hysterics from a pig ignorant environmentalist.

However, they're obviously on the right track - prevention when there is no cure. One has to wonder how much beneficial hygiene exists randomly. I'm sure we all know colonies (and beekeepers) who have little varroa damage as well as vice versa.

 

[mbc]

Parralel evolution

It wouldnt suprise me at all if dozens of 'bee experts' across the country found theyve bred magic varroa munching bees just at the same time as people see loads of feral colonies surviving indefinately without treatments in all sorts of places. Parralel evolution

 

[Stiffy]

Hmmmm heard this before somewhere,

Yep, you probably read the link I posted up last week (20th)!!

Newspaper journalists having little else to do, so have trawled the net for 'new' news?

Here is the link again, for those who have forgotten, or didn't read it. Probably less sensational than when the journalists get their hands on it!

http://www.moraybeekeepers.co.uk/Stanton_Park.htm

Regards, RAB

Sorry Rab, I wasnt trying to steal your thread just had the article passed over to me.
Cheers
S

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

Not a fan of any pan pipe music myself... But the video is an excellent example of the battle between these two.

Great vids, as you say shame about the music but vastly imrpoved by turning sound down.

 

[oliver90owner]

Sorry Rab, I wasnt trying to steal

No probs. I was just turning your quote around a little - from just a cynical comment to 'yes, similar on here last week'. One may be more likely to be less cynical if one reads the real report details. I didn't bother with the new 'news' slant on it - almost certainly sensationalised!

Regards, RAB

 

[Stiffy]

Very good video but makes me wonder. The bees are obviously irritated by the mites and will try and remove them, similar to a dog with a flea! However it would appear from the video that it takes two mites to become attached before they start to react to the mites or is it that a bee can only accommodate a single mite and the second does not get a firm purchase and becomes detached more easily?
Is this what is known as ‘hygienic behaviour’ as it just looks like a responsive reaction to me?

 

[RoofTops]

The hygienic behaviour that is wanted is more than just grooming but also the ability of the bees to detect varroa in a cell and to then open up the cell and remove the varroa. This is what Apis cerana does although it can't normally open drone cells due to the thick pupal capping, only worker cells, so it cannot eliminate the mites completely.