Laurel outlook., 1947-10-15
Scientists Seek
Superbees Race
Parenthood Via Gas Permits
Inbreeding to Produce
Valuable Strains.

Observation-Disclosures Of the
agriculture department announced
that they are on the trail Of a race
of superbees. They said that with
the aid of anesthetic gas they can
step up the entire process of bee in
breeding.
The unique knack of being able
to lay eggs that will produce drone
or male bees without ever being
mated is an unusual feature of the
virgin queen bee.
But the scientists weren't salts
fled. They wanted to be able to
breed the virgin queen back to her
W sons to produce strains with de-
sirable characteristics.
The hitch was that the virgin
queen may not lay eggs for weeks
or even months after reaching ma
turity. Chalk up "a days more for
the drone to develop and the queen
was too old to be mated.
All Is Changed.
Science has changed all that.
Given a Whit of anesthetic and arti-
fcially fortified, the virgin queen
will lay eggs almost Immediately,
leaving plenty of time for her to be
bred to her sons before her produc-
tive span is past.
The agriculture department could
scarcely suppress it's excitement as
it disclosed this innovation in the sex
life of bees. The gas used was de-
scribed as a carbon dioxide an
esthetic."
Sef-breeding long has been known
in the plant world. 1t is the principle
that made possible hybrid corn, the
corn of phenomenal yields and
hardihood that has put millions Of
dollars of added cash in the pockets
of farmers.
Department entomologists foresee
that gas induced motherhood will
lead to production Of such tailor
made" strains as:
Good natured bees that will not
sting humans. Fierce bees that will
venture into fields they've stayed
away from because of fear of insect
enemies. Bees that are super honey
producers. Bees with long tongues
a collect nectar and pollen
from blossoms they could not reach
before. Bees that will cultivate a
for one orchard or one crop.
Bees that will be immune to dis
ease.
Not Too ChoOsy.
The possibility of bee parenthood
via gas was discovered about a year
ago by a staff of entomologistS at
he departments Louisiana expert
nent station. DR.. Otto Mackensen of
he Louisiana station and DR.. w. c.
Roberts of the Wisconsin station
low have developed equipment for
~inbreeding that is ready for
Use by the layman beekeeper. :
According to the department., the
queen bee normally is not too /:
when she picks a mate. Until
!rtificial dissemination of bees was
made practical several years ago, :
t was almost impossible to main :
ain pure blood lines of bees. :
1t is through planned parenthood :
within insect families that scientists :
evelop pure blood lines. They can .
pick their genes" and weed out IN :
esirable traits and emphasize de- :
irable characteristics. The gas :
reatment speeds up this inbreeding. :
It's discovery came at a time when :
griculturists were alarmed over :
lie fast declining bee population of :
lie United States. Entomologists be- :
eve the new technique may re- :
erse this trend, which "a alarm :
lg because bees are essential to :
of farm crops. :
The department refused to specu- :
tie about the potentialities of chem :
al fertilization for animals-cattle, =
ogs, horses or perhaps human :
=
But" a spokesman said, "Then =
e never thought we could do it =
it'll bees" =