Hello all!

(I'm really sorry if you received this mail once again, obviously I sent it
to more than one discussion lists!)

For several years, in many areas of Belgium, beekeepers have become really
perplexed, especially those who hive colonies in cultivated regions.

Their colonies have been showing strange phenomena, different from those
previously observed by experienced individuals. They are different to the
symptoms expressed by classic varroa infestation - which have been known
during the last twenty years.

As well, what ever anti varroa treatment is applied to the colonies, the
phenomena are present, and exhibit similar characteristics.

Here is a description of the observed symptoms.

Abnormal colony decline at the end of the season. After the summer nectar
flow, colonies are strong and in a condition to pass winter. Then, often
during the last anti varroa treatment, the beekeeper observes that the
colony is failing and becoming weaker. In a number of cases, the queen has
disappeared. Obviously, colonies in such a condition do not survive the
winter. In the great majority of cases, the anti varroa treatment is
properly followed and correctly applied.

There is a large increase in winter losses, reaching in some cases 80% to
100% mortality in a single apiary. Hives are found to be devoid of bees.
Occasionally a hive will contain small clump of bees, surrounding the
queen. The hives are full of stores.

In springtime, a growing number of colonies find it difficult to develop.
They remain in a moribund state over an excessive period before eventually
expanding - or are just robbed out.

Certain colonies however do start as normal, with the queen actively laying
and workers sealing new stores; then there is a sudden colony breakdown.
The anti varroa treatment in these reported cases had been done correctly
and with success.

Many beekeepers record the rapid and frequent supersedure of young queens,
occurring sometimes only one month after introduction into a colony.
Multiple queen presence is observed - original mother and one or more
daughters.

Some queens, however young do not start to lay after the winter period, or
they suddenly fail, without any queen cells being prepared by the colony.
These individuals continue with an apparent air of normality - like a
laying queen.

Race or strain of bee does not appear to be a factor related to the
problems suffered, as breeders of black, brown, carnica, caucasian and
"buckfast" bees are all troubled with the same.

If you too have met such phenomena, would you please take the time to
communicate the fact?
Such details indicating local circumstances, crops, symptoms etc. are
essential in the hope of creating a data bank of information relating to
this increasing and most worrying problem.

Please send your information to:
Myriam Lefebvre.
<[log in to unmask]>

Jean-Marie Van Dyck <[log in to unmask]>
Facultés Universitaires N-D de la Paix
61, rue de Bruxelles
B-5000-NAMUR (Belgium)

Lost 19 colonies on about sixty!

Translation "en français", "auf Deutsch", "in het Nederlands" on the web page
http://www.fundp.ac.be/~jvandyck/divbee/imida/beedecline.html

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and  other info ---
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::