Re: lizards eat bees

Dick,

> That's 6" long and 1" wide. =A0 WoW, that is big!
> Every solution I can conjur up is manual labor
> intensive.

Yes the size is variable. Some species are small and very fast so that
when you notice them they run away very fast. The main problem is
migration of the families to the other areas in search of work and
keeping the boxes and the earthen pots (with Trigona carbonaria)
completely unattended for a few days. We have to change our strategy
and work for demonstrations only with those who do not migrate for
first year instead of going for large scape dissemination of the
technology.
>
> Are these lizards able to navigate barbed wire?
>
> Can these lizards squeee through screening that
> is barely large enough for bees to get through?
> I'm thinking of .5 to .75 cm screening.

We have not yet tried barbed wire and also nets to cover the boxes. so
need to try this.

> Will domisticated dogs eat these lizards?

I am not so sure whether the dogs eat the lizards but it seems worth
teaching the dogs to eat the lizards.

> Have you discussed this problem with a group
> of experienced beekeepers or with a University
> professor who researchs bees or lizards? =A0You
> can't be the only one with this problem.

I don't say that I am the only one having this problem but surely I am
the first one in the area to promote beekeeping in our district so
that it is integrated in the farming systems. Beekeeping is not common
practice in our area. So there are no experienced beekeepers in the
area. Most of the villagers are wild honey hunters and not
beekeepeers. Other fact is that we are working with Apis cerena indica
which does not mutiply so fast as A. mellifera.
I have not yet discussed this problem with the university professors
but I am sure they do not have the solution as they have not faced
such field level problems. Our beekeeping research institute in India
is located in the metropolitan city and does not do much work except
arranging seminars and trainings.

- Sachin