Hello All,
 
               Today I noticed a problem with a hive that I have been
tending and would like some help. Bear in mind that prior to my tending
of this hive this spring it had not been touched in 5 to 7 years, no
honey pulled, no antibiotics, no apistan, nothing....
 
I also had not medicated this hive until recently and today is the first
time it has had apistan ever. I had noticed the population on this hive
dwindling over the last month or so but when I pulled a frame I found all
stages of healthy brood so I assumed there was no problem.  Today when I
pulled my first frame I found NO BROOD at all.
 
I then pulled several frames and discovered the following:
 
Eggs were present and correctly  laid on the bottom of the cells
 
There was a decent pattern of uncapped grub stage brood in various stages
 
There was almost no Capped brood ( 5 or 6 scattered capped cells per
frame)
 
There was also developing larvae which appears that it should have been
capped but was not, the bees in these cells had changed position
(elongated) and were completely developed, i e : eyes present... they
were also still mostly white in color.
 
Upon pulling several of these from the cells I noticed some of them had
many small specks of black on the abdomen, POSSIBLY some type of very
small  mite or dirt specks.
 
There are Varroa Mites present and I observed several running about the
frames.
 
I did not see any signs of brood disease; i e sunken cappings, brood dead
in cells, etc.
 
I think that is about all, any Ideas ???????
 
 
I also need some instructions for applying menthol to this hive. I have
purchased the pre measured packages of menthol. I live in S.E. CT.  Temps
now are averaging in the 80's
 
Greg Z
 
 
 
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