From another List

>  [Beekeeper] lost approximately 2400 out of 3400 colonies this last fall and early winter.   He does not have tracheal mites, and low Nosema levels and varroa mites are under control as he treated in August and it worked.   Pesticides are not a factor and this fall event is happening in many other states and reported in Canada.   I think the drought has made some nutrition issues for the fall bee developing into winter bees.   Possibly their immune systems were not developed due to poor nutrition.   A lot of beekeepers are saying their clusters are smaller this past fall.   However, when questioned about the size of the cluster these beekeepers are comparing the bees to last year when the clusters were very good in size in NYS.  I believe the death rate now is high, this translates into a higher winter loss than  normal for 1012-13 winter in NYS.

Submitted by PLB

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