Questions about managing honeybee diseases

[user 20297]

@researcher8899 ....I bet you wish you hadn't asked.

 

[viridens]

researcher8899
I ask again:
You say "I'm interested in how particular groups of people build relationships with non-human species". Is that your prime focus, or are you genuinely interested in the treatment of bee diseases?

 

[pargyle]

researcher8899
I ask again:
You say "I'm interested in how particular groups of people build relationships with non-human species". Is that your prime focus, or are you genuinely interested in the treatment of bee diseases?

I think thr OP's first post was quite clear " I'm particularly interested in how urban beekeepers manage the various diseases which affect their hives, their perspectives on different treatment practices, their views on others who might care for their hives in different ways etc. I'm interested in this theme because, during my limited beekeeping experience, I've noticed that managing diseases is something which tends to illicit very strong emotions, moral judgements and opinions from people"

He's interested in the relationships, interactions and perspectives beekeepers have in relation to bee diseases and how the treatment (or non treatment) affects these and also the relationship beekeepers have with their bees .... He is not looking at the actual treatments.

 

[Worker bee]

Thankfully I've never managed a disease never had to and I'm five years in. I do take preventitive measures most of are looked at by most beekeepers as unnecessary or wrong due to it being out of the normal management recommended. Most beekeepers say but why do that but then when you try to explain they don't think they regurgitate what everyone elce writes or does

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thankfully I've never managed a disease never had to and I'm five years in. I do take preventitive measures most of are looked at by most beekeepers as unnecessary or wrong due to it being out of the normal management recommended. Most beekeepers say but why do that but then when you try to explain they don't think they regurgitate what everyone elce writes or does

So what treatments are you mixing up here
https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/threads/bee-connected-alert-message.50421/#post-769571

 

[Worker bee]

So what treatments are you mixing up here
https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/threads/bee-connected-alert-message.50421/#post-769571

Natural ones

 

[Erichalfbee]

Natural ones

Ah, that’s ok then.

 

[Murox]

Natural ones

What are natural treatments?

 

[viridens]

I think thr OP's first post was quite clear " I'm particularly interested in how urban beekeepers manage the various diseases which affect their hives, their perspectives on different treatment practices, their views on others who might care for their hives in different ways etc. I'm interested in this theme because, during my limited beekeeping experience, I've noticed that managing diseases is something which tends to illicit very strong emotions, moral judgements and opinions from people"

He's interested in the relationships, interactions and perspectives beekeepers have in relation to bee diseases and how the treatment (or non treatment) affects these and also the relationship beekeepers have with their bees .... He is not looking at the actual treatments.

With respect, I was expecting a direct answer to my question from the OP rather than a best guess. Given that the OP is a Human Geograper, I believe my question is valid.

 

[Beesnaturally]

Hi all,

I'm a postgraduate researcher in human geography and will be doing some ethnographic fieldwork with urban beekeepers this summer. I'm particularly interested in how urban beekeepers manage the various diseases which affect their hives, their perspectives on different treatment practices, their views on others who might care for their hives in different ways etc. I'm interested in this theme because, during my limited beekeeping experience, I've noticed that managing diseases is something which tends to illicit very strong emotions, moral judgements and opinions from people eg. wistfulness about times when beekeepers didn't have to medicate their bees, and anger at other beekeepers for going 'treatment-free' for various reasons, and spreading diseases to other people's colonies.

My question is about how delicately I need to treat this topic. Research participants will be fully informed about the research before they agree to take part, I won't be just accosting them on the street to bombard them with questions, but I'd like to know whether managing honeybee diseases is a touchy subject. Are people likely to get offended if I ask them about their disease treatment practices, whether they've ever lost hives to diseases, what they think about honeybee care practices in general? Are they likely to think I'm accusing them of something, or trying to sniff out if they've ever done anything other beekeepers might consider irresponsible? Is this is a topic I should tread on eggshells around, or would it probably be fine to ask questions more directly?

I'd be really grateful for your insights. Thanks!

Hi Researcher!

I think delicacy is needed, based on the understanding that people want to try different things, and believe in different narratives.

Some want to maximise their honey crop. This takes in the commercial beekeepers, obviously, but much of the amateur tradition also has this aim at its core.

Some want to help bees recover a measure of self-sufficiency, and recognize - or believe - that the practices of the first group are one of major causes of lack of self sufficiency. In return the first group believes the actions of the second are an important cause of their problems.

In the main, I think, this clash of motives plays out in the treatment free arguments - that do arouse great passions.

None of this is helped by general ignorance - or the ignoring of - the principles of animal husbandry in both parties. The ultimate cause of ill health is failure of selection for the fittest strains. Until that understanding is recovered, and put into systematic practice, the bee is condemned to ill health, and the divide between exploiter and healer will remain, and remain passionate.

In my humble opinion.

 

[Worker bee]

What are natural treatments?

For an example mint and Thyme can be used as preventative treatments or treatments for varroa

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

 

[Worker bee]

Look up essential oils and treatments

 

[Gilberdyke John]

For an example mint and Thyme can be used as preventative treatments or treatments for varroa

Allegedly

 

[Finman]

For an example mint and Thyme can be used as preventative treatments or treatments for varroa

First, it is not preventive. It kills living mites, not those which do not exist.
Thymol is not natural. It is a industrial chemical.

 

[Finman]

Hi Researcher!

Some want to maximise their honey crop. This takes in the commercial beekeepers, obviously, but much of the amateur tradition also has this aim at its core.

In my humble opinion.

Some want to maximize honey crop by treating diseases...... what is this talking?
What idea is to nurse sick domestic animals?

And an amateur does not care about honey crop..... what is this talking..... is that the famous method called "catch and reliese".

.

 

[Worker bee]

First, it is not preventive. It kills living mites, not those which do not exist.
Thymol is not natural. It is a industrial chemical.

Can be used as preventative treatment for EFB and others, studies show its effective against AFB too I think. Keeps spore and bacterial levels low

 

[Finman]

Hi Researcher!

I....The ultimate cause of ill health is failure of selection for the fittest strains. Until that understanding is recovered,

In my humble opinion.

Good heavens your humble imaginations.

A disease is a failure of selection? Who heck has invented this?

 

[pargyle]

Can be used as preventative treatment for EFB and others, studies show its effective against AFB too I think

News to me ... Thymol is an effective treatment for Nosema and is the active ingredient in some Varroa treatments but I'd like to see studies that show it is effective against Foul Broods ...

 

[Finman]

Can be used as preventative treatment for EFB and others, studies show its effective against AFB too I think

You can use it, but it is easier if you buy a new queen to you hive and EFB is healed.

Show me a study where AFB has been healed with thymol. What I know, antibiots Terramycin and Tylosine are allowed use in USA, but not in Europe.

Do you actually know what means preventative?