Re: Reply to MRMACOPHYL@aol.com
Rand Nicholson (writserv@mis.ca)
Sun, 28 Jul 1996 02:13:26 -0400
>>as a hymenopterist I for one would not cry a drop for the honeybee.
>>this beast has pretty thoroughly depleted our native bee populations
>>by being far aggressive at the pollen and nectar sources. the native
>>bees would be just as capable of the pollenation of most crop if given
>>a chance and would also be less affected by such things as mites and
>>such GCS
>>
>NOT TRUE!! Conservation and preservation are important, but this
>unrealistic masochistic ignorance does the cause of conservation and
>preservation a great disservice. I, like many reading this, like my
>apples, peaches, and almonds. You yourself said that native bees were
>not as aggressive at pollination so how can you then say "the native
>bees would be just as capable of the pollenation of most crop" This
>self flagellation of some people who appear to be apologetic that they
>were born human makes no sense. Suppose the beaver decided that
>building dams was terrible and that beavers should stop gnawing down
>trees and starve? Maybe the wolf should turn vegetarian? I and you
>are as much a part of nature as the beaver or the bear or the VTF. Yes
>let us support preservation and let us support conservation, but let us
>do it with the truth and a healthy dose of realism. Please learn
>something about bees and beekeeping and the whys of what is done. Take
>care of a hive for a couple of years. When you eat an almond consider
>the cost of that almond if 90% of the crop were missing because there
>were no honey bees or beekeepers. Consider how much more effective you
>could be as a proponent of conservation and preservation if you
>approached the problem with knowledge and logic.
Which you seem not to.
Introduced bees out-compete indigenous bees. Beekeepers are now finding
that European bees can't defend themselves against infestations that were
brought over from Europe and Asian countrys. Where do commercial bee
keepers in North America buy their queens to establish their hives?
Knowledge, logic _and_ information.
Rand Nicholson