A report on mites and cell size

[Understudy]

Okay I found this report on mites and cell size. It includes AHBs. It was put out in 2003.

http://www.funpecrp.com.br/gmr/year2003/vol1-2/gmr0057_full_text.htm

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Brian D. Bray]

Very interesting reading.

[Jerrymac]

Yep.... That one has been posted here many times with much debate. Just remember to pay attention to how the research was done. In what period of time it was done. You can't do a decent small cell study in only one or two years.

[Dick Allen]

I didn't take the time to read the report.  It may or may not be accurate, good, clear, etc., etc.  The unfortunate thing about the internet is that innaccuracy can be spread around as much (or maybe even more so) than accuracy.  

Much of what gets posted on all these internet sites, and not just beekeeping either, needs to be taken with a grain of salt. This is particularly true when heated "discussions" take place. Someone finds something through a google search that agrees with his or her point of view and sees that as irrefutable proof that they are right and the other person is, of course, wrong.

Generally, when someone does post something that subsequently turns out to be wrong the poor wretch will continue to argue that they are right and would rot in hell before admitting to having made a mistake.

(This isn't a rant, just an observation.)  8)

[Finsky]

The main question is that research have done with africanized bees. We know that it is able to resist varroa. We know too that in some africanized colonies mite level is so high that it does not suit honey production industry.

Most forget that the magic word is africanized bee, not small size cell.

In Sweden and in New Zeland they has been made reasearch that small cell does not save bees from varroa.

And I remind you that no authority recommend small cells in varroa control. But bees are yours. Do with them what you want. But do it when it is full moon.

But if my bees are very big, do you think that normal cells are small to them? I have very good hive now. Bees are really big and carry good yield.

[qandle]

The other thing to keep in mind about "journals" and articles like this is that in the world of scientific publishing, online journals are in general much lower on the respectability scale than printed journals.

Lowest on the scale are self-published projects that researchers and profs post on their web sites. I've seen a lot of these.

Next would be peer-reviewed online journals. Like this. But this one has "page charges," which basically means there is no $$ or organization behind the journal, thus the author of an article has to pay to even after it has been reviewed and deem "legit" by the editors. The cost is $250 US. These types of journals have become more widespread with the popularity of the internet and the continued pressure for professors to publish or perish.

At the top of the scale are totally legit, known and respected, printed journals, peer-reviewed. You can find in library databases, etc.

Anyway. I didn't read the article or anything I was just pointing out that there are ways to judge the legitimacy of "published" research. I'm a PhD and do this type of publishing in my area (communications).

Quint

[Michael Bush]

>Most forget that the magic word is africanized bee, not small size cell.

The important thing is that you're comparing apples with apples.  This study is comparing AHB on smaller cells to the same AHB on larger cells.  They are not proving small cell works by putting AHB on it.  They are proving that large cell fails by putting successful AHB on it.

It is too bad it wasn't with EHB.  But, as I keep pointing out, all you need to find out for yourself is a bit of 4.9mm and 5.4mm drawn comb and an observation hive.  Watch the queen lay.  Mark the cell with a number or letter and write down the date and time.  Repeat as much as you want on both the 4.9mm and the 5.4mm.  Com back in about 7 or 8 days and start watching for capping.  Mark down when they are capped.  Come back in another 10 and start watching for emergence.  Mark that down.  It's simple math.

Or, just put them on natural sized cells and see what happens.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnaturalcell.htm

[Brian D. Bray]

MB,

You hit the nail on the head.  They set out to prove one thing and proved something different.