In article  Casey Burns <[log in to unmask]> writes:
>Date:         Sat, 21 Jan 1995 08:49:21 -0800
>Reply-To: Discussion of Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
>From: Casey Burns <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject:      NW Beekeepers
>To: Multiple recipients of list BEE-L <[log in to unmask]>
 
>Here is a question for other beekeepers in the maritime Pacific NW:
 
>In these balmy days - are you seeing any bees out flying around the
>hives? In my one remaining hive (sigh!), there's lots of bees - but they
>aren't leaving the hive at all - this doesn't seem right to me...
 
>Casey Burns
>Kingston Washington
 
Hi Casey,
first let me warn you, I am not an expert. Now, it might be that your hives
are queenless, and the bees you see are the juveniles that hang out on the
"deck" before becoming foragers, and are from the last cycles of brood. This
happened to us. After having one hive for three years which eventually
"vanished" we purchased two nucs last spring, one made it, but the other queen
didnt produce so the hive dwindled away. Why queenless...I dont know, books
have a lot of mention about supersedure, which seems to be nature's way of
replacing the queen, but I know we are going to buy a new queen from someone
local. There are "wild bees" here, and a neighbor has hives, so there should
have been enough drones, etc. As for disease, it might be Varroa mites, which
is spreading. We are using Apistan per directions.According to the beekeeper
at L.A. Honey, Varroas mites can drive the hive so crazy the bees leave or
each hatched brood cycle dies from lack of tending. So if you have very tidy
frames, with no brood and no other signs of disease, it might be that. Another
thing might be that there are foragers going out, (while the youths hang out)
but aren't making it back as the few hours of "balm" may not be warm enough
for them, as their wing muscles are susceptible to chill, so they may be
unable to get back. The best thing is to check with your local Agriculture
rep, (ours are arranged by county). It should be free, taxes have already paid
for the advise!
Hope your bees make it,
Marth (Richard's spouse)
Regards, Richard
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