Dead lavae and bees

[oldmatty]

For the last three morning's I've been seeing this. Any idea what's going on?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Most of those are drone pupae ( not larvae) and have deformed wings due varroa vectored DWV. They have been removed by the bees as diseased.

 

[oldmatty]

Couldn't see any varroa at all on previous inspections. Those are pupae. But there was lavae aswell. Haven't had this at all this year untill three days ago. Why all of a sudden.

 

[Swarm]

Drone purge.

 

[oldmatty]

Can you suggest a quick fix

 

[Erichalfbee]

Couldn't see any varroa at all on previous inspections. Those are pupae. But there was lavae aswell. Haven't had this at all this year untill three days ago. Why all of a sudden.

How have you measured varroa load?

 

[oldmatty]

How have you measured varroa load?

There was none on floor count when I took it out

 

[Erichalfbee]

They might just be chucking drones out but there are deformed wings. Natural drop on the inspection board is so unreliable in the presence of brood as to be virtually useless. You need to do an alcohol wash or sugar roll
What do you use to control varroa and when did you do it last?

 

[oldmatty]

They might just be chucking drones out but there are deformed wings. Natural drop on the inspection board is so unreliable in the presence of brood as to be virtually useless. You need to do an alcohol wash or sugar roll
What do you use to control varroa and when did you do it last?

I collected the swarm late July last year. Had some rhubarb leaves in there over winter

 

[Erichalfbee]

I collected the swarm late July last year. Had some rhubarb leaves in there over winter

That might be your answer then.
I hate to say this but rhubarb leaves are pretty pointless. I should imagine your colony is now dying of varroa

 

[Erichalfbee]

Can you suggest a quick fix

Get some apiguard in

 

[oldmatty]

That might be your answer then.
I hate to say this but rhubarb leaves are pretty pointless. I should imagine your colony is now dying of varroa

You reckon they've had it?

Apiguard those green strips that come in yellow packs?

 

[Ian123]

I collected the swarm late July last year. Had some rhubarb leaves in there over winter

Oh dear god!

 

[oldmatty]

Oh dear god!

How is that helpful

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I collected the swarm late July last year. Had some rhubarb leaves in there over winter

Who on earth advised you to just do that?
Acute varoosis by the looks of it - I'd get any honey off the hive and start your apiguard treatment ASAP

 

[oldmatty]

Who on earth advised you to just do that?
Acute varoosis by the looks of it - I'd get any honey off the hive and start your apiguard treatment.

Id always used strips in the past. Two local keepers. They swear by it so I thought I'd try it

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

That's two beekeepers to steer well clear of in future then - how often do their colonies die off?

 

[user 20297]

That's two beekeepers to steer well clear of in future then - how often do their colonies die off?

...only the once.

 

[oldmatty]

...only the once.

No idea they've been keeping bees for years. I might give one of them a call

 

[user 20297]

No idea they've been keeping bees for years. I might give one of them a call

@oldmatty . I don't doubt that your time-served beekeepers may be onto something......I'm just following the humour flow.......... no-one here who hasn't tried using rhubarb leaves can specifically say they don't work; even though they probably don't.