I've had smallcell for number of years, 6 years I think now. My discussions in past years included outright clashes with those that first hailed smallcell as a comb too small to allow mites to reproduce. Oh...those were the early years. Imagine that....cells too small for mites to reproduce.
Then came the "Bees cap the brood earlier" and this suppressed mite reproduction. And of course anyone questioning, was met with..."You can't dismiss it if you don't have any smallcell!"
So I ran out and got smallcell.
So for 6 years, I, and perhaps a couple others, who actually had smallcell and questioned the "bandwagon" crowd, were easily dismissed by such followers of smallcell. We had a bone to pick, or other agendas were at play.
But I stuck to my guns and probably was badmouthed in very dark corners. I mentioned many times..."Sooner or later, the research will come out"
Of course when one of the first smallcell studies came out, it was automatically attacked and reasoning's of failure including "mite leveling" was introduced. (which is a bunch of crap!) Oh, the memories of those heated discussions.
But I knew what I was seeing in my own bee yards and in my own smallcell colonies. Many questioned my position as a "You hate smallcell" for one reason or another, after I was just relaying my own observations. I kept clear of some circles, as if anyone not fully on board was to be blackballed. The fact that maybe someone was actually just stating what they were seeing, probably was dismissed.
Bee Culture has a nice article on smallcell. It is a followup and actually mentions three separate experiments by J Berry (Georgia), one from the University of Florida, and one from New Zealand....all finding the same conclusion. All those claims were not being seen in regards to lower mite level in smallcell bees.
I commend those researchers. I also feel very good knowing for years, what I was seeing, is now seen in multiple studies.
As I said years ago, this fad will pass. The claims will be debunked. Just be aware of the next "gimmick" no doubt coming down the road.
I actually have noticed some rather huge past supporters of smallcell are actually starting to slide the way of natural cell. Something that I find ironic in that I have been promoting natural comb for years.
Yes, it sounds as if I'm patting myself on the back. But it feels real good after being hammered for years by others, to start seeing those walls crashing down.
I applaud those few who were willing to stand up and ask questions and some who actually supported me.
5 years ago, I was hammered for even suggesting that commercial beekeepers were using illegal chemicals. Those doors came crashing down. 5 Years ago, I questioned smallcell and was hammered for that too. And that is door is opening up, to debunk some of those claims.
But hey!....I'm just the kook that starts trouble, asks too many questions, and has too much time on his hands to actually check some of this stuff out.
Great article. Bee Culture, November 2009, page 49.
Now I wonder how they will dismiss these studies also... :roll:
Topic: It's been awhile in coming..... (Read 1932 times)