> Standard beekeeping management practices for an operation of this size were employed. Treatment regimes >throughout the year were as follows: >(1) antimite treatment April 2009, just prior re-queening - amitraz; >(2) antibacterial treatment May 2009 - oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC) (TerramycinTM); >(3) anti-fungal (Nosema sp.) treatment August 25, September 12, and October 13, 2009 - fumagillan; >(4) antibacterial treatment late August, early September, 2009 - tylosin tartrate; >(5) anti-mite treatment September 12, 2009, after harvesting honey; >(6) anti-mite treatment - early November and early December 2009 - essential oils from lemon grass and spearmint >(Honey-B-HealthyTM). TEN different treatments from April to November. Also: >Honey bees colonies were periodically supplemented with sugar syrup and protein supplement. In April (1 gallon) >and October (2 gallons) bees were fed 50% (weight/volume) sucrose; in November all colonies received 3 gallons of >a 1:1 mixture of high fructose corn syrup-55 (HFCS-55, 55% fructose, 42% glucose) and sucrose syrup. Additional >sugar syrup was given to colonies based on colony weight (,80 lbs - 3 gallons, 80-90 lbs - 2 gallons., 90-100 lbs - >none). This amounts to SIX gallons of HFCS and more sugar syrup if the colony weighed less than 80 lbs. >This operation experienced an average 18% colony loss from November 2009 to February 2010. Colonies with >younger queens (#2 years old) experienced 11% loss, whereas colonies with older queens experience 21% loss. Add in the colony losses and this BEEKEEPER's cost per hive must have been at least $150! Not my idea of standard practice! *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at: http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm