This could'nt possibly be a pesticide problem could it?  Sounds too drastic too
suddenly to be mites, not that I'm any kind of expert on it. Or perhaps the bees
are older and are dwindling due to age and the stress of being relocated, etc.
Just a thought.....
 >We receintly purchased packaged Bee's from a local bee supply
>enterprise.  The dealer made a trip south and trucked the packages
>back.  The packages were purchased queenless.  We bought our buckfast
>queens from the Weaver's.  When the packages arrived the sugar cans
>were empty.  All the bees appeared vigourous and strong.  All the
>packages were hived upon delivery and the queens introduced.  Upon
>checking for queen release 5 days later we discovered our problem and
>hence my question.  I should also note that all the queens had been
>released into  the colony.
>
>My problem is that it appears that I am going to lose about 1/3 of
>the purchased colonys.  On the day we checked the hives for queen
>release we found the bees in the questionable colonys to be extremely
>sluggish and or dormant.  A check 2 days later on the suspected hives
>showed lots of dead bees approx. 90%.  A visual exam for varroa
>showed a few bees with mites out of the several hundred examined
>maybe 10 had varroa.  We have sent samples out for T-mite testing as
>I have not purchased a scope yet.  I would be happy to supply more
>specific information to those who have furthur questions for me.
>
>What should I suspect or pursue in my investigations as to these
>losses?
>
>Thanks in Advance
>
>
>
><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<:
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>The Cutting Farm                 Kearsage Beekeepers Association
>PO Box 605                       NH & VT Beef Producers Association
>Grantham, New Hampshire 03753
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