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Subject:
From:
"Mark D. Egloff" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Discussion of Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 27 Jun 1996 08:23:29 EST
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     Gentlepeople:
     I have been following the thread on the BEE-L that concerns
     observations of little brood in the brood nest with a certain
     amount of concern.
 
     I noticed in one of my stronger hives last weekend that there
     was no brood, no eggs, nothing.  In its sister hive two feet
     away I found a "normal" mixture of eggs, larvae, and capped
     brood.  Pulled Drone Brood from that hive revealed no varroa (I
     pulled about 15 drones from one place in the hive.)
 
     My first diagnosis was that I was queenless in the hive even
     though the hive was behaving normally.  It wasn't overly
     aggressive (even after I dropped one of the brood chambers),
     bees were flying and taking advantage of the weather and they
     had put up 4 full medium supers of honey.
 
     The thread being discussed concerning little or no brood in
     hives with advanced varroa infestation has me concerned that my
     first diagnosis may be incorrect.  Although I treated with
     Apistran this spring according to directions, the spring
     treatment was accomplished beginning Feb 18 and pulled on April
     1.  Last year varroa became an issue for me in August but I had
     treated through the month of April and early May.  Is it
     possible that my early treament this year has given enough time
     for the varroa to resuge now rather than August?
 
     or...
 
     How can one tell the difference between simple(?) queenlessness
     and advanced varroa infestation?  I intend to reinspect the
     broodless hive this weekend and will do the apistran test for
     varroa unless I see that all is normal.
 
     Could those of you who experienced crashes last year remember
     if you noticed any signs of broodlessness prior to the crash?
 
     Thanks to all of you.  I have learned more in the past year
     "listening in" on the List than I had in the previous three
     years.  Keep up the discussions!
 
 
     Mark Egloff
     [log in to unmask]

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