>After several detailed inspections by some more knowledge'd than I >in beekeeping, it was determined not to be CCD related. --Details please, I try to keep an open mind I will provide some details. From 2006 to 2008, -one of those years being particularly severe -(sorry cant recall exact the year which was severest), the nectar flow was good till early-mid June in these years then stopped completely. No unusual weather, bloom was abundant, but very little nectar coming in. Strong colonies just managed to fill the leading edge of the broodnest, maintaining critical brood functions. Strong colonies were just managing while smaller were under severe stress and starving. Strange observation was that although foraging was basically not existent, I observed nearly no bees testing colonies, no excitement in any colonies, robbing non-existent, even though lids were propped and entrances remained wide open. Winter losses occurred in early winter and higher than normal. And some interesting cases of December starvation in mature colonies, with abundant stores remaining. No absconding occurred. The person that inspected my colonies, is well experienced with what was occurring in hundreds of colonies in SW Pennsylvania region, and said nectar flow was absent in the entire region, but bloom appearing strong. I was pressured by internet persons to blame ccd, -some experts were telling me ccd could take on varying symptoms in different parts of the country. I came to a conclusion that No robbing, or testing was the result of a great majority of stores being capped, and little nectar present, provided less odor and less incentive to test and rob. The person that inspected the hives, provided me with a rather fascinating theory, and yet plausible. To be brief, it had to do with cycles in the flow of nectar, rather than any malady affecting the foraging abilities of colonies. If it was CCD, as many encouraged me to believe, it was gone by 2009 Best Wishes, J. Waggle *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at: http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm