Anything to worry aout?

[Darryl]

Today I found around 18 dead and dying bees along the flight path from my hives. All identical bees and not sure of they are from my colonies or from elsewhere. Did an inspection at the weekend and everything seemed OK with my "national" lot a pleasure to deal with as usual and the "langstroth" mob as grumpy as hell as is normal for them. I wondered if anyone has any ideas if there is anything to worry about re the bees in the pics. There are usually a few scattered dead workers after a days hard work foraging but these are different to the norm.
It's my first full season so all experiences are new to me.

 

[Boston Bees]

If you have two hives then hundreds of your bees will be dying every day currently. When they get old they try to walk away from the hive if they can.

 

[Swarm]

Suspect wings on that drone.

 

[Darryl]

Suspect wings on that drone.

I thought it might be varroa but both nucs were treated (allegedly). To date, varroa count nil on each hive.

 

[Murox]

I thought it might be varroa but both nucs were treated (allegedly). To date, varroa count nil on each hive.

when did you last do a sugar roll or alcohol wash?

 

[Erichalfbee]

I thought it might be varroa but both nucs were treated (allegedly). To date, varroa count nil on each hive.

How did you measure?

 

[Darryl]

when did you last do a sugar roll or alcohol wash?

Not done. Picked up the nucs May.

How did you measure?

The counted on the board beneath the varroa mesh. 14 days after installing them.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Not done. Picked up the nucs May.


The counted on the board beneath the varroa mesh. 14 days after installing them.

That’s a very inaccurate method unless you count over a whole brood cycle. So that’s three weeks of daily counting. Quite why the NBU persists in its “natural drop” is beyond me

 

[Murox]

You said they were allegedly treated for varroa - do you know with what?
Do you have the wherewithal to perform a sugar roll or alcohol wash ? then you can establish the levels of varroa.

 

[Darryl]

That’s a very inaccurate method unless you count over a whole brood cycle. So that’s three weeks of daily counting. Quite why the NBU persists in its “natural drop” is beyond me

Thanks. I'll have to rethink my varroa checking method. Meanwhile I'll have a go at a sugar roll.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Quite why the NBU persists in its “natural drop” is beyond me

Because the BBKA like it (that, and shooken swarms)