Big business in California....

[derekm]

Smart thieves burn all equipment and rehouse bees.
No evidence so safe from prosection.

The only solution is what do for banknotes - exploding dye bags

 

[Michael Palmer]

Are these losses or just weak colonies Michael?

The only reference I could find on the web pointed the finger at - of course - neonics (http://www.pressherald.com/2015/08/...-passed-laws-but-finding-culprit-gets-tricky/). Have all Florida operations suffered similarly?

Not sure why they lost all these bees. Realize that they bought an operation with old comb and lots of exposure to ag chemicals. The previous owner was able to keep things going with continuous treatments...varroa/afb/efb/nosema. I mean every time the colony was opened. The new owners thought they had the bull by the ba**s. Hired no-nothings and lost the bees. No surprise.

Florida does seem to have more problems than, say, Texas or California. Don't know why.