CHRS: IBMPC 2 CODEPAGE: 437 MSGID: 240:244/116 52d1fe0c REPLY: 240:44/0 8c25a47b PID: FDAPX/w 1.12a UnReg(526) Hello all, I'll put in my six penneth worth, I collect more swarms than anyone in my locality, I also have many swarms arrive of their own volition since I set up bait hives. Since two years before Varroa was noticed here in South East England the propensity for swarming increased. 40% of existing beekeepers gave up on losing their bees in 95, mine dropped from 200 colonies to 20, I now have around a steady 50. I have always (over 35 years) removed feral colonies from buildings, I am aware of some 60 properties, trees etc that home feral colonies in my region. Most of all those feral colonies were dead by 96-98, the voids were not taken up because of the frass left by the greater wax moth, tons of honey has fallen down chimneys and through ceilings as a result. Only now are the swarms reoccupying some of the voids. Here the facts, what has been written of swarming bees leaving relatively free of mites is to my mind correct, a swarm arrived and hived itself on foundation and one drawn comb. All the combs were drawn (early May) the queen laid up all the combs (6) the bees provisioned the larvae, stored pollen and nectar, at about twelve days, two queen cells (supersedure, very common with swarms) were laid up,four days on all bar 50, left and moved on, I know not where. If I knew I would have grabbed those bees because I think that might be evolution at work. They had left all the Varroa entrapped, I did not mention they also removed all the stores so the 50 bees were rather a sacrifice. I have kept bees for 39 years now, I only wish I had the mind of a scientist and recorded all the odd things that happen with bees so that I might determine if my theories have any substance. In 98 many of the remaining beekeepers hereabouts had no honey to speak of, they nearly all lost prime swarms and afterswarms. My best crops came from the colonies I managed rigorously or from the early swarms I took. I have some colonies that appear to cope better, they have fewer mites than others but unfortunately they are the colonies I wished to requeen because their temper is poor. It is a dilemma? Until some of my docile colonies show an aptitude to overcome Varroa I feel obliged to keep these other queens going. I keep the two extremes eight miles apart. The colonies at apiaries in between I treat with various hard and soft drugs. This summer I promise myself to keep records better than in the past. Who knows? Regards and keep on going despite adversity. [log in to unmask] --- * Origin: Kent Beekeeper Beenet Point (240:244/116)