Beekeeper Ron Hoskins has found a breed of the insect that protects itself against the parasite causing a rapid decline in the bee population
Posted on 08/24/2010 5:29:35 PM PDT by dennisw
Ron Hoskins has found a breed of the insect that protects itself against the parasite blamed for the alarming fall in numbers.
The 79-year-old made the discovery after realising that one of his hives had far fewer deaths from the varroa mite than others.
He found that the insects in that hive 'groomed' each other to get rid of the mites before they had the chance to do any harm.
Now he is attempting to spread his mite-resistant breed of bees by cross-breeding them with queens from other hives.
Decline: The UK's bee population had dropped by 60 per cent since 1970 after the varroa mite entered Britain
Mr Hoskins, who developed an interest in beekeeping at the age of 12 after he was evacuated to live with a beekeeper in Oxfordshire at the start of the Second World War, has spent 18 years researching a mite-resistant breed of bee.
The former heating engineer from Swindon has lost tens of thousands of bees to the parasitic varroa mite over the years.
During his research he found one of his 80 hives had suffered far fewer mite deaths than the others, he examined the insects and found tiny marks on the bees where the mites had been. Step by step, how he did it
He realised this was because they had begun to 'groom' one another to remove the parasites.
He has now cross-bred his hives so they all contain the 'Swindon honeybee', as he has named it.
'What I want to do is redevelop the British bee so that it can protect itself against these varroa mites.
'If all the bees in the world die out then we die out - the situation is really that serious.
'Humans are completely reliant on bees pollinating crops and plants which produce oxygen.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Beekeeper Ron Hoskins has found a breed of the insect that protects itself against the parasite causing a rapid decline in the bee population
This is a bigger deal than most people realize.
This is a bigger deal than most people realize.>>>>>>>>
Let’s hope we can spread this varoaa mite resistant breed very fast and that it lives up to its billing
Yes it is.
Great, great news.
We’re making a lot of last-minute adaptations in bee-keeping.
Especially in controlling the Africanized.
Then you would say it is a Beeutiful development?
Hopefully the British can create something to rid the isles of a pest far worst than the rat’s fleas that brought the bubonic plague. This pest came from N. Africa and the Middle East.
“This is a bigger deal than most people realize.”
Agreed ... this guy could be the Norman Borlaug of bee, honey and by products, many many of them.
“If all the bees in the world die out then we die out - the situation is really that serious.”
Good grief, all the bees are in no danger, the only threat is to honey bees, of which there were none in America when the colonists came here, and all the fruits and vegetables were pollinated with no problem. Thousands of other species of bees can perform the job of Honey Bees, and so far even Honey Bees are surviving. I’ve see twice as many honey bees every year for the last five.
Even if all he hony bees in the world perished, the world would go on quite nicely.
Hank
Interesting, never heard that before. Now I can sleep tonight! :-)
Gentleman is also 79 yrs old..now THAT is remaining productive in retirement.
THIS IS AWESOME.
I really like Meade and haven’t made any in awhile due to the price of honey.
Not if you like honey!
wouldn’t it be funny if the mite grooming trait came from the african killer bees interbreeding with our european honeybees?
But nature (God) will provide a way.
“Not if you like honey!”
I like honey and have had no problem getting all I want. Have you?
I think the problem is a real enough one for those who raise honey bees, and I certainly hope the problem is solved (which I very much believe will happen in this case without human intervention—though I’m not at opposed to that).
In another 10 to 15 years this problem will be totally forgotten.
Hank
Hank,
Maybe not. Intensive agriculture places a demand for pollination on thousands of acres all at once. Honey bees are trucked in across the country to handle the task, then packed up and sent to the next crop.
There was no intensive agriculture before the colonists came.
But the article says we are completely dependent on bees and we would run out of oxygen without them. /media induced panic
In other news, a new design of nail bomb has been developed in Damascus.
...And if ‘ol Ron Hoskins had been a Community Organizer earlier, he could win the Nobel Peace Prize!
“Maybe not. Intensive agriculture places a demand for pollination on thousands of acres all at once. Honey bees are trucked in across the country to handle the task, then packed up and sent to the next crop.
There was no intensive agriculture before the colonists came.”
Yes, I know. They are doing it today. (Guess not all the bees are gone, eh?)
It very well may be a problem, but my point is it won’t be the end of the world. Life on earth does not depend on the survival of any one species of life. I’m also convince the honey bees will survive as well.
Hank
Do hybrid seeds need to be pollinated?
“Do hybrid seeds need to be pollinated?”
Not sure what your question means. Seeds are not pollinated. And most hybrids will not produce viable seeds.
I’m quite sure hybrid seed are produced by artificial pollination (that is, mechanically). I know people who polinate their own fruits and veggies using cotton swabs.
Hank
Are you a beekeeper? Anyone on this thread? I have a bee question.
Cool... just remeber that last time someone made a Super-Bee we ended up with the African Killer Bee, yeah thank the French. Maybe a Brit can do better. :)
plants don’t produce seeds unless they are pollinated. Fruit is part of the seed. Therefore, to get the edible part of most plants you need pollination to produce the seed and the fruit. But if you plant a hybrid seed, is pollination necessary? The plant is already sterile. I think it’s going to produce a fruit/seed with or without pollination.
“Do hybrid seeds need to be pollinated?
I believe they need to be pollinated to produce fruit - but I could be wrong...
Yes it is. I wonder if it's possible to patent a particular breed of bees. I know that the round up resistant seeds have been patented. If it is then this guy may a very rich man someday.
What’s the bee question?
My husband has brought several quarts of honey home from work this week. A guy he works with raises bees! It is so pretty and tastes so good. I have a bee hive that I would love to populate with some bees!
There are certain times of the day I will not go into my vegetable garden because various wild bees are doing their job. Not one honey bee and the pollination is fine. I love the bumble bees, a little heavy around the middle and slow like me.
I do hope they figure out this mite business though. Orange blossom or clover honey is heaven on toast.
Thanks in advance.
We have a stone foundation on our old house. Last year we had bees take up residence inside a hollow in the foundation, alongside a windowsill. Lots of bees this year.
I have no choice but to replace and mortar in the window soon. The bees will lose their home, and I’m afraid I’ll have to destroy them in the process. Is there anyway I can encourage them to move? I can’t take the foundation apart.
I’ll try to catch a bee and get a picture for you. Lots of them. Very busy. My wife carries an epi pen because she is allergic.
Many beekeepers would love to take those bees from you for free...... They will add them to their colonies and hives. Start asking around for a local beekeeper who will do this
In the big city they will call this pest removal and charge you for it unless you meet the right bee keeper. I’m guessing you are not in the city? Then go find a friendly local bee keeper. County extension agent can help
Oh..... And if you find a beekeeper who will do it for free he will appreciate if you buy some honey from him to seal the deal :)
You can’t move the bees yourself but a bee keeper can
I’m sorry, I’m afraid I was tired last night, and did not really understand your question.
aMorePerfectUnion is right:
“I believe they need to be pollinated to produce fruit ...”
That’s right for the majority of hybrids, but not all, such as hybrid Persimmons.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/ag28.html
Hank
Dodge had Super Bees 40 years ago.
OK. I’ll call the county extension office. No, not in a big city. I’ll be interested in seeing them move them without physically being able to get to the hive.
Don’t want to kill them. I’ll keep you posted.
You might even get some free honey if the local beekeeper really needs bees. With the recent diseases hitting hives he might really want your semi-wild bees.
He might give you some delicious honeycomb from the process of getting the bees out of your foundation. He will use a smoker and be all suited up in protective gear. Your wife can stay inside far away from the action :)
Even if all he hony bees in the world perished, the world would go on quite nicely
While gardening this year, I watched the small Bumble-Bee on my bean blooms. They cover more bloom then the Honey Bee, much faster, and very valuable to farmers. So, I will have to agree with your view.
Seen this?
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