Originally Posted by
Stromnessbees
I recently received a request by Reg Godwin and Glyn Davies for queens from varroa free colonies. They would be used in a new study that examines the link between DWV and queen failures.
I replied that I would be happy to support the research as long as the collected data would also be checked for a possible bias from neonicotinoid pesticides, as they are also a strong contender for affecting queen performance.
According to Reg no question about possible exposure to these pesticides was included in the record sheets yet, and he would pass on my concerns.
I have not had a definitive answer about the final set of records yet, but I suspect that this study will be conducted without checking for a bias from neonics.
In my experience, any scientific study has to inlcude data that could produce a strong bias, or else the results cannot be relied upon.
Likewise, one could conduct a study to see if, for example, eating chicken promotes lung cancer: if it isn't recorded whether the participants are smokers or not, the study becomes worthless.
I recommend that anybody else who is asked to supply queens for this study should request that neonic data be included in order to make sure there is no more money wasted on incomplete research.
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