----- Begin Included Message ----- Jerry, In two cases, we have found swarms of bees as puddles of bees on the ground. I sampled one of them and found it riddled with varroa mites. I suspect it was an absconding swarm and destroyed it. Adrian ----- End Included Message ----- I read this message and it struck home with me, as I recently found a swarm which was on the ground. Although it appeared to be clustered around a small branch which broke. This hive has almost all died, in spite of a mite strip, AFB meds, and constant feeding of sugar water. It was a small swarm, and now it is down to only a handful. Any advise? How do you inspect for vorroa mites? Thanks, Chris