> A good queen seems to keep it >under control so much it is non-existent or barely visible. I make nucs in mid-summer, from weak colonies...sacrificing them and making up nucs with their brood and bees. Sometimes the colony sacrificed has Chalk Brood. The nucs are started pretty weak...1.5 frames of bees, and enough bees to cover the brood. Initially, the nuc loses strength before the new queen is laying well, and her bees are hatching well. One batch of 22 nucs in particular, made up about July 21st, was severely compromised by Chalk. Most of the brood was dead, and things sure did look grim about August 6th, when I removed the queen cages and checked for a laying queen. I went back again today. This is the time I make my final inspection of this summer's nucs. I adjust the strong and weak ones...by adding or subtracting frames of brood. Well, the Chalky nucs have surprised me. They have 3 frames of brood at this point. Hardly a mummy could I find. While the brood patterns haven't fully recovered yet, and the populations are smaller than I like, the mummies are gone. In fact, the bees are dismembering and removing brood before there are mummies, and while the pupae are still white and soft. Amazing what hygienic bees will do...even when only weak nucs. Mike -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.6/428 - Release Date: 8/25/2006 -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---