Lynn asks:
  The area these hives are in is heavily farmed and there are few
trees or houses and unless there is another apiary I don't know about I am
led to believe that bees traveled 6 miles to rob out a diseased hive.  Is
this likely?

Could also be a wild swarm with AFB or a place where a feral colony with AFB
had been being robbed and causing the problem.

Yes! Especially in areas of farm crops which provide no nectar and pollen at
this time of year. The bees simply fly over acres of soy beans and corn
waiting for the combine in search of nectar.

I move bees out of such areas in fall  and into areas of fall nectar &
pollen ( like I have been doing the last two weeks) . Hives winter poorly
without a fall flow of some kind to provide pollen and young bees to winter
with.

Heavily wooded areas are the best place to stash a large number of hives
from the locals!

Usually hives at a distance of six miles would be too far for serious
robbing *unless* the hive was already dead or almost dead.

Bob
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