Hi All,
It's recently come to my attention that there's a difference between what
happens to hives on the West Coast of North America, compared to the East
Coast, when they collapse from varroa/DWV.
Here in California, varroa collapses typically occur during September
through October, or even August through November. One week there's a
strong colony with lots of flight; a week or two later there's no bees in
the hive, only a slight scattering of sealed brood, and plenty of honey
left in the hive. That honey typically does not get robbed out for some
time--often not starting until weeks later. This despite that fact that
such collapses typically occur during our prolonged late-season nectar
dearth. And we frequently see a hive with barely a handful of workers
left, somehow appearing to defend a hive full of honey.
On the other hand, I've heard reports from the Northeast that collapsing
colonies get quickly robbed, starting even while there are remaining guard
bees attempting to stop the robbers.
This difference would have a huge impact upon hive-to-hive mite
drift--whether it is due to robbing, or due to bee drift. One may be more
important than the other in certain areas.
I'm asking for reports from beekeepers all over the country and the world.
Please reply to me directly at [log in to unmask], with the word
"Collapse" in the subject line.. Please keep your reports BRIEF, and
answer four questions (using the words in parentheses for your answer):
1. Your region? (state, country, province, etc).
2. The typical period of varroa/DWV collapses in your region?
(month--month).
3. Do varroa/DWV collapses in your area typically occur during, or
immediately after a nectar flow, or during a dearth? (during flow,
immediately after, dearth)
4. Do the collapsed hives get robbed out immediately or later?
(immediately or later).
Example of an answer:
1. Northern California foothills
2. Sept-Oct
3. Dearth
4. Later
Thanks,
Randy
[log in to unmask]
--
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com
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