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Offline iddee

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Wayne's bees
« on: October 28, 2014, 07:05:12 pm »
I gave a guy a nuc of Wayne's bees last summer. He didn't treat them, nor take any honey. They went into winter with 2 deep and a medium 8 frame.

I helped him split them into 4 this spring. This is what they look like now.

All have sufficient pollen and honey for the winter, with loads of bees, and still have not and will not be treated.





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Offline Perry

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Re: Wayne's bees
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2014, 08:03:38 pm »
Awesome. :)
Iddee, if you were to hazard a guess as to why these bees have been so successful all this time, what would you say? Have the bees themselves figured out how to deal with the mites in some manner?
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Offline tbonekel

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Re: Wayne's bees
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2014, 08:18:40 pm »
I have a hive that has had mites
I even saw some deformed wings. I did not treat. They also had an amazing amount of drones early in the spring. Checked last week and they seem to be doing great. Haven't done an official mite count but don't see any on the bees. I know they are probably there. Wanted to see how they handled it. Glad to see you are not treating!
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Offline iddee

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Re: Wayne's bees
« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2014, 08:21:44 pm »
Only an opinion, Perry, with nothing to base it on. I just think they have a gene or something that gives them the ability to handle the mites and keep the mite count low. There will be mites in the hives, but the count will fluctuate. The bees seem to have an ability to keep them at a manageable level. I gave a state bee inspector a nuc spring, 2013. By fall, it had a high mite count. She did not treat. By Dec., the mite count was low and the hive was bursting with bees by April.
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Offline Perry

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Re: Wayne's bees
« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2014, 08:38:11 pm »
It's too bad that some research isn't being done on a colony of Wayne's bees. Clearly they have found some way of dealing with mites, and it would be nice if a thorough study could perhaps discover why.
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Offline riverbee

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Re: Wayne's bees
« Reply #5 on: October 28, 2014, 08:46:02 pm »
amazing!

i do think there is something to be said about the genetics of the bee.  i have a russian mutt hive that has survived for 3 years, no treatments, and little management. i sure would like to capitalize on this queen's genetics come spring when she makes it through winter. 
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Offline Jen

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Re: Wayne's bees
« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2014, 08:47:50 pm »
Iddee, but how do you know that the bees are low or high with mites on this Wayne's hive? Meaning, I can go without treating and still keep an idea of how many mites are in the hive with a sticky board. This information here doesn't give us any idea if there are, or are not mites in the hive.

Did the beek of this Wayne's hive ever check in any way?

I had four hives over the summer, two of the hives continue to get mites, purchased queens. And the other two didn't ever have mites, original swarmy queens. 
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Offline Marbees

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Re: Wayne's bees
« Reply #7 on: October 28, 2014, 09:05:10 pm »
Quote from: iddee on October 28, 2014, 08:21:44 pm
Only an opinion, Perry, with nothing to base it on. I just think they have a gene or something that gives them the ability to handle the mites and keep the mite count low. There will be mites in the hives, but the count will fluctuate. The bees seem to have an ability to keep them at a manageable level. I gave a state bee inspector a nuc spring, 2013. By fall, it had a high mite count. She did not treat. By Dec., the mite count was low and the hive was bursting with bees by April.

iddee, your theory makes sense, never experienced or read that hives with high mite counts reduced those numbers on their own.
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Offline iddee

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Re: Wayne's bees
« Reply #8 on: October 28, 2014, 09:09:59 pm »
Jen, I lost one hive after 15 years of no treating, another after 10 years of no treating. Neither died from mites. I don't care if they have them or not, as long as they can keep them under control and make honey year after year.
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Wayne's bees
« Reply #9 on: October 28, 2014, 10:58:20 pm »

  I have put my word in for a couple queens from Tates..  In fact, I stopped in and talked to the farmer I spoke with about an outyard today. I gave him a jar of honey, and made sure he knew I still wanted that outyard. The purpose of that yard IS for Waynes bees..   I will tinker and fuss and crossbreed the other bees I have, but these little queens will have a spot all to themselves. There are NO managed colonies within 5 miles of this site, (which is why I chose it and spent so much time getting permission) though I am sure there are feral colonies.
   I will give these queens decently strong colonies, and with luck, split and end up with 4 strong colonies going into next winter.

    I always order VSH queens. Some show some ability, some show little ability to resist mites. Waynes bees I have high hopes for!
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Offline Jen

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Re: Wayne's bees
« Reply #10 on: October 28, 2014, 11:26:33 pm »
so that's what wayne's bees is?  vsh?
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Offline iddee

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Re: Wayne's bees
« Reply #11 on: October 28, 2014, 11:34:57 pm »
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Wayne's bees
« Reply #12 on: October 29, 2014, 09:17:01 am »
They are survivors Mrs. Jen. they were never BRED for hygienic traits. When the mites arrived, this hive or hives managed to survive the onslaught. it was split, and proliferated without being treated, and remains untreated. 
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Offline Jen

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Re: Wayne's bees
« Reply #13 on: October 29, 2014, 02:53:10 pm »
Nice! kinda extra Nice!  :)
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Offline Riverrat

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Re: Wayne's bees
« Reply #14 on: October 29, 2014, 09:53:07 pm »
Im going to go out on a limb here.  I'm going to say there isn't a hive in existence in the united states that is mite free.  The hives that survive without treatment are adapt to dealing with the mites and keeping there numbers down .
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Offline iddee

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Re: Wayne's bees
« Reply #15 on: October 29, 2014, 10:01:27 pm »
Sure there is, Rat. There's many empty hives in the US.   ;D   :D

Even if there is a mite free colony, it won't be long. It isn't keeping them free of mites, it's keeping them alive and dealing with the mites as they come in that is the goal.

It's like roaches in a home. There likely isn't a home in the US that doesn't get roaches from the grocery store every now and then. It's what the occupants do about it that counts.
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