Crawling bees

[daisy murdoch]

Ten days ago I bought a nuc which arrived with a double handful of dead young bees. Once opened (and every day since) young bees have been leaving the hive and climbing up / falling down blades of grass and dying. I have treated for varroa, given menthol and an oil sugar patty. Any advice please?

 

[Erichalfbee]

What are stores like? Have they enough to eat? If they are starving then you need to feed them with syrup...not a patty.
BUT
If there is food
Take the nuc back, get a refund and purchase a new one elsewhere. I wouldn't even bother to find out what's wrong

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

but why menthol? did they have a cold?

 

[Erichalfbee]

but why menthol? did they have a cold?

Mental and oil sugar patty. Same source I guess and likely not OP’s fault.
I’ve put this in beginners so be nice.

 

[daisy murdoch]

but why menthol? did they have a cold?

Supposed to help with tracheal mites…

 

[daisy murdoch]

What are stores like? Have they enough to eat? If they are starving then you need to feed them with syrup...not a patty.
BUT
If there is food
Take the nuc back, get a refund and purchase a new one elsewhere. I wouldn't even bother to find out what's wrong

Patty is supposed to help with tracheal mites? They have syrup and stores.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Supposed to help with tracheal mites…

Not really a problem in the U.K. Where are you?
You e been sold a bad nuc.
Take it back.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Mental and oil sugar patty. Same source I guess and likely not OP’s fault.
I’ve put this in beginners so be nice.

was just asking, I feared the OP had been fed some duff 'advice'

 

[robinharman]

Are any of them shiny/hairless?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Are any of them shiny/hairless?

Would a nuc have CBPV ( chronic bee paralysis virus)? Unless it was thrown together from an affected parent hive I guess

 

[Cuckmere couple]

Would a nuc have CBPV ( chronic bee paralysis virus)? Unless it was thrown together from an affected parent hive I guess

i guess it would if comprised of colonies with CBPV

i often wonder if swarms are likely to take CBPV with them as one would think, infected bees may not leave with swarm

any experience of swarms with CBPV or CBPV colonies which swarm 'taking it with them'?

my experience a few years back of CBPV is i take no chances now as i found it persistent despite measures taken

 

[Erichalfbee]

Infected bees die in a couple of days. They can’t fly.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

Infected bees die in a couple of days. They can’t fly.

ok, thats helpful, thanks Dani

is in line with instinct that a swarm is unlikely to export it....

 

[Sutty]

Infected bees die in a couple of days. They can’t fly.

There might be an asymptomatic but infected period, so I wouldn't count on it.
Thankfully I've never had it

 

[Erichalfbee]

There might be an asymptomatic but infected period, so I wouldn't count on it.
Thankfully I've never had it

But the bees in a swarm are much reduced in density. Maybe that’s why you don’t see disease in swarms? One of the things to do with an infected colony is to give them lots of space.

 

[hive8]

Ten days ago I bought a nuc which arrived with a double handful of dead young bees. Once opened (and every day since) young bees have been leaving the hive and climbing up / falling down blades of grass and dying. I have treated for varroa, given menthol and an oil sugar patty. Any advice please?

Hi
I have the exactly the same problem. And still dealing with dead bees daily. Bought a 5 frame nuc in April, every day dead or crawling bees on the floor in front of the hive not a pile more of a carpet. I'm at a loss. Can you tell me what you've done or where your at?

 

[daisy murdoch]

Hello,
I had a local bee inspector advise me in the end. She thinks it is paralysis virus which is passed bee to bee. Advised removing base of hive so that infected bees fall onto ground and therefore reduce contact with healthy bees.
I still have a few crawlers each day but colony is growing.
I still think it might be tracheal mites due to K wing and grass climbing.
Sorry I can’t be more helpful. Try contacting your local bee inspector?

 

[hive8]

Thanks.. Iv done what I can if it's the paralysis virus. Nobody has mentioned tracheal mites to me before, it dose sound more like tracheal mites rather that than paralysis from what iv just read. I'll try some menthol Crystal.
Thanks, much appreciated.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I still think it might be tracheal mites due to K wing and grass climbing.

Both are features of CBPV too.
Interesting thought though.
Tracheal mites haven't been common since beekeepers used Thymol and Formic acid to control varroa but moving over to Apivar and Oxalic acid may well change that?

 

[Chris Hancock]

Both are features of CBPV too.
Interesting thought though.
Tracheal mites haven't been common since beekeepers used Thymol and Formic acid to control varroa but moving over to Apivar and Oxalic acid may well change that?

Hi
I have the exactly the same problem. And still dealing with dead bees daily. Bought a 5 frame nuc in April, every day dead or crawling bees on the floor in front of the hive not a pile more of a carpet. I'm at a loss. Can you tell me what you've done or where your at?

If bees are rubbing together a lot in transit, they may have their hairs broken and let any virus in, but it probably has to be in that environment already, and will pass from bee to bee, so they throw affected bees out.