I thought you had a TBH? surely you wouldn't be feeding fondant from above the top bars? so how would fondant get into virtually all the cells?
I keep mine next to the strychnine stash I managed to get for moles a few years ago
Nowt so queer as folk
That's right was suspended from a bar adjacent to the cluster. (A bodged up frame feeder basically).
Yes and somewhat academic too you could argue - dead is dead after all. But keen to understand what I'm seeing. Initial suggestions were so adamant about the poop and evident high varroa. Also, if I'm honest the site is so tragic I somehow prefer the idea of isolation starvation/freezing; it feel a little less negligent (which is absolutely a pointless distinction I suppose).
There are mites visible on the bees in the photo.
There is lots of varroa on the bees.
So not much chance of fondant getting into all the cells then I'm afraid
There'd have to be - I'm sure the late treatments must have played a part.
hmm yes
- and actually, when i checked is under the area I put put the fondant initially. Here and there elsewhere some tasteless waxy stuff.
How many bees were in the wash sample? Randy says he treats if there is more than 1 mite per ½ cup sample (300 bees).
all of them - 2 cups - probably more than 300/half cup as small (dessicated I guess) and take up more room when active. Say 1500-2000 bees. It's perfectly possible the dead mites fell off the dead bees before making it into the washing cup though I suppose.
Personally... after the treatments you did for varroa and having looked at the photos I didn't think varroa was the prime cause.. I think what you are seeing is the result of queen failure... not enough winter bees and as the colony dwindled (as they do naturally over winter) there was colony failure. Top bar hives tend to be thin walled and it takes a big winter colony or lots of additional insulation to get them through winter... TBH are notorious for winter losses when they are not well wrapped. Also did you adjust the position of the stores going into winter ? They need to be at one side of the brood nest to reduce the risk of them becoming isolated from them. The bottom line is ..they are dead . Its sad... you may never know what the cause was... could be multiple factors ... put it aside, chalk it up to experience, take into account all the things it could be .. make a note for doing things differently next year and move on. The new season is but a whisker away ...lots to do and think about in terms of live bees ... leave the dead ones as a memory..
I saw someone taste Hiveclean the other week on the premise that she would not give her bees something she had not tried herself. Judging by her facial expression I think she regretted it!
Good job I don’t taste where my bees get their water from, then
Or your own water?
