In a message dated 03/06/2008 03:17:17 GMT Daylight Time, [log in to unmask]  
writes:


<<In the UK we tend nowadays not to have a broodless period,  although there  
may be a period with less brood. I haven't yet been  brave enough to open a 
hive  
in December and destroy the sealed brood  before applying the oxalic.

Chris>>



I suspect that everything depends on the strain  here, but I found that mine 
had less than half a dozen capped cells around New  Year, so they're as near 
broodless as makes no difference. As I found out two  years ago, the big danger 
is when there's an influx of mites in autumn, too late  for the bees to raise 
a generation of unparasitised workers to overwinter.  

Regards,

Robert Brenchley,
Birmingham  UK




   

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