On the question of what could repel robber bees from hives that
collapsed from CCD, here is something to ponder. Remember, all that
needs to happen is that the scouts have to avoid CCD hives, for
robbing behavior not to be initiated

> Growers perform tasks to ensure a bountiful crop, including pest management which typically requires the application of formulated herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Fungicides are frequently considered safe for use around bees, yet during the 2008 almond bloom, we noticed that bees stopped foraging along the sprayed rows. In addition, dead bees were found outside of several colonies which suggested the sprays were toxic to the bees. source: Alarcon Jr, R.N., Hoffman, G.D., Wardell, G. 2009. Fungicides Can Reduce Pollination Potential. Western Farm Press. Vol 31(7) pp. 17 & 21.

> Here we describe a new phenomenon, entombed pollen, which is highly associated with increased colony mortality. Entombed pollen is sunken, capped cells amidst “normal”, uncapped cells of stored pollen, and some of the pollen contained within these cells is brick red in color. There were elevated pesticide levels, notably of the fungicide chlorothalonil, in entombed pollen. Additional studies are needed to determine if there is a causal relationship between entombed pollen, chemical residues, and colony mortality. -- “Entombed Pollen”: A new condition in honey bee colonies associated with increased risk of colony mortality. source: Dennis vanEngelsdorp, et al. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology Volume 101, Issue 2, June 2009, Pages 147-149

-- 
Peter Loring Borst
Ithaca, NY  USA

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