We only paid to test for Indoxacarb residue testing as this seemed to be the logical culprit.Could the levels fall below the 3.0 pbb and still have caused the kill?Anthony 

We've continuously fed, for weeks, bee colonies syrup laced with imidacloprid and pollen laced with this same chemical, and combinations of both at far higher levels than 3 ppb, with no significant increase in dead bees collected in trap in front of the hives.  We're writing this study up for publication.  We did see effects, but not necessarily in terms of dead bees, which was a big surprise to us.

We also have data from a field study where we were studying clothianidin impacts, and we did see a significant mortality - about two weeks before the clothianidin was applied.

Lessons to be Learned:
1) Don't assume that dead bees = a specific chemical,
2) Given the cost of collecting samples, sending to Gastonia, etc. saving a few bucks on a single chemical assay versus the broad spectrum analysis for over 200 chemicals is a false economy. 
3) Did you check for:
    a) Starvation,
    b) Nosema ceranae,
    c) Varroa mites?
    d) Deformed wings?

All can produce piles of dead bees in front of a hive.  The first three certainly, especially if Nosema and/or varroa are in concert with virus problems.  DWV is one visible indicator of potential virus problems, if you've got it in high numbers, suspect mites and other viruses.



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