Mmm

[drex]

The sperm in her spermetheca is all mixed up. She does not use sperm from drone 1 then sperm from drone 2 etc.

 

[Poly Hive]

it is classic human nature to partly believe others experience but that is no where near the value of personal experience.

I can tell you I have experienced this behaviour in bees at least 20 times+.

In fact it can I have experienced take as little as 24 to 36 hours to make a massive difference.

Make of that what you will but also try this for size.

Why make the same mistakes that others warn you against? Discuss...LOL

PH

 

[bontbee]

Introducing even a queen cell can make an immediate difference.

 

[Karsal]

The sperm in her spermetheca is all mixed up. She does not use sperm from drone 1 then sperm from drone 2 etc.

If you read the March edition of the BBKA magazine page 85. It supports my theory that sperm from a drone from an aggressive colony doesn't mix evenly in the queens spermatheca and can therefore result in a colony that becomes aggressive.

 

[Little John]

Perhaps at some point beekeepers will begin to embrace the concept of uncertainty ...

All it takes is a couple of bees with 'attitude' to show their true colours, and the whole colony then becomes painted with the same brush. Even if - worst case - those few bees had actually flown in from another colony and begged admittance. It happens.

There are precious few 'rules' in beekeeping that can be religiously relied upon - most are anecdotal, and passed on from generation to generation like gems of wisdom - it's only when these are challenged by the contrary mavericks who spring up from time to time, that they are exposed as being just so much bunkum.

The task for all new beekeepers is to sort out the wheat from the chaff - which is no easy task. Sadly, that's how the craft has developed over the decades. And even more worrying is that it's getting far worse in this age of the Internet where any idjut can post garbage for millions to read. There is no longer any editorial control, or the checking of an author's credentials, and so the barmiest of ideas get to sit alongside tried and tested protocols - as apparently having equal merit.

Be on your guard - and question everything.
LJ

 

[wightbees]

If you read the March edition of the BBKA magazine page 85. It supports my theory that sperm from a drone from an aggressive colony doesn't mix evenly in the queens spermatheca and can therefore result in a colony that becomes aggressive.

I don't understand why the mix would make any difference? If the drone is from a angry colony then surely the trait is there regardless of mix?

 

[pargyle]

Perhaps at some point beekeepers will begin to embrace the concept of uncertainty ...


There are precious few 'rules' in beekeeping that can be religiously relied upon - most are anecdotal, and passed on from generation to generation like gems of wisdom - it's only when these are challenged by the contrary mavericks who spring up from time to time, that they are exposed as being just so much bunkum.

The task for all new beekeepers is to sort out the wheat from the chaff - which is no easy task. Sadly, that's how the craft has developed over the decades. And even more worrying is that it's getting far worse in this age of the Internet where any idjut can post garbage for millions to read. There is no longer any editorial control, or the checking of an author's credentials, and so the barmiest of ideas get to sit alongside tried and tested protocols - as apparently having equal merit.

Be on your guard - and question everything.
LJ

Yeah that ... But try convincing some people - easier pushing water uphill !!

 

[Little John]

I don't understand why the mix would make any difference? If the drone is from a angry colony then surely the trait is there regardless of mix?

I don't understand why the mixing-or-not of sperm is of any relevance at all to the beekeeper. It may be an interesting academic point, and perhaps of interest to the breeder (getting several similar queens 'in a row' etc) - but if a queen has got sperm onboard from an undesirable (undefined) genetic line - then those genes will be expressed sooner or later - does it really matter in what order ?
LJ