Jerry J Bromenshenk writes:
>
> Hi:  There are several reasons for spotting in the hives.  One of the
> reasons those of us in winter climates use upper entrances is to allow
> the bees to fly during warm weather to cleanse themselves.  If the snow
> buries the entrance, the bees can't get out.  I once found a hive that
> had sagged shut.  I popped the lid up a bit and ended up covered from
> head to foot with yellow rain.  Had on a good parka, had to send it to
> the dry cleaners.
>
> Hovever, there is one cause of spotty across the top bars that most of
> you will never see, but one that we have seen all too often.  Exposure to
> arsenic (usually from industrial sources like smelters) produces this
> effect.  Arsenic poisoning often culminates in death of the colony during
> the winter or early spring.
>
> I wouldn't worry too much about this problem unless you have bees in
> industrial regions or in those rare parts of the world where arsenic
> levels are naturally high in groundwater.
 
I wonder if another source of arsenic could be from using pressure treated
lumber in or around the hives????
-------------------
End of network mail