I have a list of more than 50 names of people wishing to know more
about Instrumental Insemination so please do not be offended by not
being addressed personally.
I send this e-mail, or write, to invite you to our 'get-together' as
detailed in the heading above, hoping that not too many of you will be
away on vacation and will be able to attend, I am sure you will want
to be at this meeting.
I cannot say at this stage how many or who will, or will not be coming
along, but I do ask each of you to make the effort, especially as more
immune varroa locations have been found, at Haverfordwest in Wales and
east of Exeter in Devon. I suspect the problem is more widespread than
that and not yet found. I.I. may well be the way forward when hygienic
bees, able to cope with varroa are found, and you may be the one to
find them. When such bees are found, instrumental insemination will
have to be used to expand their numbers quickly.
We want you there to be able to tell the rest of us about your progress
or alternatively to simply benefit from the experience and knowledge
of those who have been able to progress.
We now have four members who have been to USA to study with Sue Cobey.
I believe others have been to Europe. Several members and groups have
their own insemination equipment, so please bring that along.
If you have been fortunate enough to raise the funds to purchase
equipment, then come along and tell others how they might also get
funding. Insemination of queens is surely the only way forward for
bee breeding in the future but can be very costly; therefore any way
in keeping the cost down will be of interest to many.
If you are looking for a low cost approach then John Pollard may well
have the answer. He will be bringing along about six pieces of
equipment that will be set up for us all to use. John feels that these
are so cheap that if you are able to master the technique, then this
may be the machine for you.
We will require both queens and drones to practice with on the day so
start breeding in good time to ensure drones are sexually viable,
minimum 12 days old (so start breeding 12 July -- latest), and queens
4 to 10 days old (26 July -- latest).
Since our last meeting some of you will no doubt have acquired new
equipment. Please bring it along. Those that were able to bring
equipment along last year do please bring it again this year as some
members attending this time will not have seen it and it will help
those about to purchase to make up their mind which to go for.
Information regarding what accessories are needed and where to buy
them will also be of interest!
We now have a Halifax Savings A/c in the name of 'Instrumental Insem.
Grp. Club' so please make out your membership cheque for 2003 (£5)
payable to the Insemination Group, if you have not already paid that
is.
Those receiving this by 'Snail-mail' but who now have an e-mail
address, please reply by e-mail to me (Ron) so that I will then have
your address on file.
R.S.V.P. if we will we see you on the 16th ;
don't forget the queens and drones,
Please send any corrected address, etc., and e-mail address to Ron.
Written by Ron Hoskins on 26th June 2003, with slight
amendments by myself.
I will be bringing a quantity of
10 ml glass vials,
and some used
insulin syringes
and possibly a few suitable springs. It is also likely that I will have a few
DRONEX grids available for those
that have not already ordered them.
Written by Ron... 26th June 2003,
Posted here... 01 July 2003,
