dead bees

[Cuckmere couple]

thanks JBM and Dani....i am seeing them as write offs....just lots of activity (more than there has been) which worried me about others transferring to their hives rather than worried about store depletion

i need to suit up to have a look as am just seeing from kitchen window!

 

[Erichalfbee]

thanks JBM and Dani....i am seeing them as write offs....just lots of activity (more than there has been) which worried me about others transferring to their hives rather than worried about store depletion

i need to suit up to have a look as am just seeing from kitchen window!

Yes it’s absolutely horrid. The incidence has really shot up. Let us know what you find.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

and it feels like an inconsistency if they recover to allow them to stay in hive and on frames....it feels like i probably need to plan to migrate to new frames and sterilise hives even if they recover

 

[Swarm]

Not you in particular.

Your post answered mine directly - 'the science disagrees' - the rest is a direct insult which is ironically quite funny.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

and it feels like an inconsistency if they recover to allow them to stay in hive and on frames....it feels like i probably need to plan to migrate to new frames and sterilise hives even if they recover

Exactly the kind of thing Bailey devised the Baily comb change for, although in a proper Bailey comb change you would supply the bees with a full box of sterilised comb to move up to.
And NO! shook swarm is not the answer, especially not in this case

 

[Erichalfbee]

Your post answered mine directly - 'the science disagrees' - the rest is a direct insult which is ironically quite funny.

If I meant you alone I would have quoted your post. Your advice is wrong

 

[Cuckmere couple]

and then the hive count email lands......may call all of these .25s

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

and then the hive count email lands......may call all of these .25s

I would list them then mark them as winter casualties

 

[Cuckmere couple]

just checked garden hives
- 3 double broods all looked v strong - one had a small clump of dead bees outside, no obvious signs inside of disoriented bees on upper bars or falling off and no real numbers dead on floor
- two of the hives with open floors seemed v strong still and no new dead bees obviously...a small number dropped from mid hive whihc the floor would have caught
- the weakest floorless hive had more dead under hive and 2-3 seams inside...dont hold out much hope but lots of stores
- 2 nucs seem strong tho one had a small clump of dead at front but no real numbers on nuc floor

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

just checked garden hives
- 3 double broods all looked v strong - one had a small clump of dead bees outside, no obvious signs inside of disoriented bees on upper bars or falling off and no real numbers dead on floor
- two of the hives with open floors seemed v strong still and no new dead bees obviously...a small number dropped from mid hive whihc the floor would have caught
- the weakest floorless hive had more dead under hive and 2-3 seams inside...dont hold out much hope but lots of stores
- 2 nucs seem strong tho one had a small clump of dead at front but no real numbers on nuc floor

I'd hang on in there for a couple of weeks then try replacing the floors, by that time you've done all you can, leave them alone and let winter sort things out for you

 

[Cuckmere couple]

perfect....will do JBM....its been best part of week....will leave another 10-14 days

 

[Erichalfbee]

perfect....will do JBM....its been best part of week....will leave another 10-14 days

With a bit of luck most of the infected bees will have gone. If they are in poly they won’t cluster so tightly which is what you want.

 

[Swarm]

If I meant you alone I would have quoted your post. Your advice is wrong

It was Pete's advice actually and it worked.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

hmmm...on of the double broods is showing signs now....is it possible to use same strategy on the double? bees from upper bb will obviously still fall to top bars of LBB

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

yes

 

[Cuckmere couple]

thats this afternoons job then
am certainly not going to move anything to my other apiary of 10 from garden!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Are you saying now that you have four colonies affected? Maybe it’s not CBPV after all. Perhaps it’s time to simply put your bees to bed for the winter and leave them to it. I think that’s what I would do.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

I have essentially put them away and was removing last feed when I noticed the mounds of dead bees

here are some photos from just now and the last one and video from the double brood I mentioned above

 

[Cuckmere couple]

The double brood

 

[Cuckmere couple]

It won’t allow the video