Dead bees

[alldigging]

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/index.cfm?pageid=117


info there

 

[Loubylou]

I am not having much luck...... as the remaining bees are not taking any of the syrup and the stores are not so good. Also I am pretty sure the queen has died as I haven't seen her for several weeks.
I am now not confident this colony will over winter successfully.

 

[Outlander]

Does anyone know where I send the dead bees to for analysis please?

Hi Louby, I missed your thread first time round and I apologise for that and also very sorry to hear about your bee.

I believe that you should send them to the national bee unit. Google it and it will give you the information you need I do believe.

 

[itma]

What should I do if I suspect that my bees have been poisoned?

Contact your local Bee Inspector or one of the Team at the NBU immediately. They can advise you on what to do. However, it would be a good idea at this point to collect a sample of the affected bees. A sample of at least 200 bees is required for the analysis. It may be advisable to collect a sample of bees for yourself, should you wish to have an independent analysis carried out. You may send this sample directly to the NBU with a covering letter explaining the circumstances if your wish, or wait for a bee inspector to visit. Information on how to send samples to the NBU is provided in the section submitting samples to the NBU. {link}

Copied from this page (which has a working link to packaging info)
https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/index.cfm?sectionid=33

Samples can be preserved in the freezer, in plastic, but they want them posted unfrozen and not in a plastic bag - so use for example a (cooks - larger sized) match box.

The NBU (National Bee Unit) is in York.
There are lots of contact details on this page (NBU, Inspectors, etc ... )
https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/public/Contacts/contacts.cfm
The SBIs are off for the winter, so it has to be the Regional Bee Inspector.

Suspected poisoning can also be reported by phone to the Wildlife Incident Unit on 0800 321600.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

Looking again at the picture, the wooden board has lots of bits of bee on it. Any why would bees fall THROUGH the mesh floor?

 

[Loubylou]

Yes, I couldn't work that out either. It has been suggested that they could be robber bees getting trapped somehow, entering from the back of the hive as there are two small holes either side of the varroa floor. But would there be so many robber bees attacking at one given time? Also, I couldn't understand why they didn't leave via the same hole they entered in?? This is the reason why I thought they could have been poisoned. All very confusing.

 

[Suzi Q]

Possible the bees were already underneath the mesh when you put in the insert and so were trapped?

 

[Loubylou]

Don't think so as mesh and floor were put in at the same time.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

Bits of bee would usually indicate robbing. Are you a member of a local association or do you have an experienced beekeeper nearby who could have a look see?

 

[Hivemaker.]

I am not having much luck...... as the remaining bees are not taking any of the syrup and the stores are not so good. Also I am pretty sure the queen has died as I haven't seen her for several weeks.
I am now not confident this colony will over winter successfully.

Sounds like old queenless, possibly nosemic bees,with a touch of paralysis, just dwindling away.

 

[Swarm]

Don't think so as mesh and floor were put in at the same time.

You've had the inspection tray in since the hive was constructed?