Don Coats wrote:
>Scrap body parts sticky board might suggest insectivorous insects or shrews
but I don't think either of them would invade the hive in winter.  <

Shrews could be responsible for the body parts. Here in the Maritimes the
standard line from experienced beekeepers is that if a shrew gets in to one
of your hives in winter they can destroy the entire colony by snacking on
the torpid bees on the outside of the cluster until they are all gone.

My observations of areas of body parts on the sticky boards were made in
fall, however this does not rule out shrew impacts.  Our provincial
inspector has documented substantial winter impacts from shrews in this
part of Canada.  I use 1/4" mesh on my entrances and hope that none are
already inside when I put this in place.

Some of the comments following the article linked below suggest that shrew
impacts are possible across many parts of North America.

https://beeinformed.org/2014/04/18/the-pygmy-shrew-a-little-mammal-that-is-causing-big-problems-in-canadian-overwintering-colonies/



Rob Hughes
Upper Kingsclear NB

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