Joe Waggle has put a lot of thought into this problem.  My colleagues  in 
Penn and Georgia all report the same syndrome.
 
All of the possible factors mentioned by Joe and others are reasonable  
explanations - except none holds up when you look at the different states,  
scenarios.
 
Joe comments on lack of pollen and nectar -- that was the case in some of  
the affected colonies in Fl, but definitely not the issue in others.   Beeyards 
managed identically - some had the problem, others did not; some had  lots of 
nectar and pollen, others didn't.
 
Beekeepers involved had been in different areas, used different management;  
some threw everything, including the kitchen sink, at mites and colony 
nutrition  - others used virtually no chemicals or supplements.
 
Although mostly in migratory operations, one big hit was NOT.    Also, loss 
was no necessarily gradual - colonies moved into FL - some crashed in  a couple 
of weeks.
 
Joe notes that surviving queen, brood looking healthy.  We saw one  dramatic 
example of that -- and they were making good pollen/nectar  stores.  Yet, we 
also saw 'survivor colonies' that looked ok a week or two  ago, but almost all 
were dead on re-inspection -- no bees at all.  We want  to know how the 
recovery proceeds -- will the problem re-appear when the  colonies once again have 
old bees?
 
We're looking at HMF and some other chemicals in the hives -- but the  
affected beekeepers vary so much in management practices, crops bees are  near,  
locations, that none seem likely to be a common denominator -- over  all of the 
operations displaying the loss.
 
It seems we need to backtrack these colonies.  So fa, I know that some  were 
in Maine, New York, Penn, Wisconsin -- all crashed when returned to  Fl.  We 
know of losses in Penn.
 
Has anyone seen this in Wisconsin, Maine, New York?  I realize your  hives 
are probably not available for inspection -- but keep your eyes open this  
spring -- and I recommend checking if you get a weather break -- for those who  
don't send their colonies to warm climates.
 
Again, we want to locate any place where this is occurring.  Please  contact 
us, if you see or have seen this syndrome this year.  Some report  the problem 
as early as August of 2006.
 
Thanks
 
Jerry
 
J.J. Bromenshenk
Bee Alert Technology, Inc.
406-544-9007 - cell
406-541-3160 - business
 

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