>>1) We've seen and sampled CCD cases... One change this fall, far greater number of colonies completely empty, even the queen left.

A good friend of mine said two of his hives moved to goldenrod on the edge of suburbia and farms, absconded in October and November.  Might be due to the heavy yellow jacket predation this year although it made me think the vicinity of the agricultural land (or rather the chemicals used on it) might be a factor.  Bees must be driven pretty hard to abscond right before winter...

Waldemar

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