At 02:24 PM 5/30/96 +0000, you wrote:
>On Tue, 21 May 1996, Tim Peters wrote:
>
>> Hello Everyone:
>>
>>         Although it is somewhat moot this late in the season, a question
>has
>> cropped
>>         up in my mind.
>>
>>         This year, for the first time, my girls were dis-interested in the
>> sugar syrup
>
>
>And Vince Cappola added:
>
>>       I have noticed quite a few colonies that will not take syrup
>>since last fall. At that time I was feeding corn syrup with fumidil, even
>>some strong colonies ingnored the feed long after the last flow. Same
>>this spring. These colonies have gone downhill while the ones accepting
>>feed have built normaly.
>
 
And David Green added:
>    I think one of the most valuable lessons I learned during the heyday of
>tracheal mite, is: "Do not nurse along junk!     Cull it."
>
>   One of the first symptoms of sick bees is that they will not take feed
>(and there is no flow going on).  Despite all efforts, these bees will
>dwindle.  They may limp along for an entire season before demise, but they
>will not be productive.
>
Before you start culling bees,  Make sure you really have a problem.  I've
had bees that wouldn't take sugar syrup when there was a nectar flow on even
if they didn't have enough field bees to gather it.  In this case I have had
success with candy made with old honey and powdered sugar.  It tides them
over until they start flying in sufficient numbers.
Also make sure sure sugar syrup is fresh.  Sometimes the bees won't take it
when it develops that slime in it.  About 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider
vinegar added when mixing helps this problem.  And finally corm syrup.
There are several ways this product is processed.  The corn syrup that I can
get locally, is so thick you almost need a knife to cut it.  Great stuff
right?  The bees won't touch it even when they are starving.  My daughter
gets me some from a supplier in Atlanta that is much thinner and the bees
love it.
 
All I'm trying to say is,  don't cut your throat if you don't have to.
 
Franklin D. Humphrey Sr.
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