Losses

[Karsal]

Just an update on the losses.
A member of our beekeeping club is a bee inspector and asked for approx. 50 dead bees to examine under the microscope. Acarine or nosema was a possibility. He did examine the bees I dropped off at his home and he could not find anything untoward. No nosema or acarine.
The day I took him the sample of bees I closed up the OMF to half its size allowing some ventilation but not the full OMF.
I have had no more losses from the hive since. Coincidence?
Keeping an eye on the hives, quite mild here today 9 degrees and quite a few bees flying from all three hives.

 

[beeno]

Hi Karsal,
That's good news then. OA next since it is such a bad varroa year? Merry Christmas.

 

[Karsal]

Cheers Beeno.
Merry Christmas

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The day I took him the sample of bees I closed up the OMF to half its size allowing some ventilation but not the full OMF.
I have had no more losses from the hive since. Coincidence?

Probably - you get the odd surge of bodies littering the front of the hive - especially after a cold snap, where they do as little as possible then when it gets a bit warmer they have a cleaning blitz

 

[Erichalfbee]

The other day I saw a bee carry a corpse some considerable distance before dropping it; something more commonly seen in the summer.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Just an update on the losses.

I am glad things have stabilised. Do think about mites; some of mine are still brooding but we might be going into a broodless period.

By the way, the term "losses" is more normally used at the colony level and is pretty alarming to see in a header. "Casualties" or similar is a less specific term.

 

[BrianO]

Hi

Found that visual inspection, worked for me, suited and booted.. Through the
entrance or/and up through the OMF with a quick burst of a, not too bright torch, gives a good read on colony status.

As in through entrance can see cluster if not yet moved up frames, and if have can see by peering up thru OMF

Never heard mention of others doing just seemed a good way to get an instant update without upsetting the hive balance/temp.

0k , does look odd and can be awkward manoeuvring under hive yo peek up through OMF but not too hard

 

[peteinwilts]

Hi

Found that visual inspection, worked for me, suited and booted.. Through the
entrance or/and up through the OMF with a quick burst of a, not too bright torch, gives a good read on colony status.

As in through entrance can see cluster if not yet moved up frames, and if have can see by peering up thru OMF

Never heard mention of others doing just seemed a good way to get an instant update without upsetting the hive balance/temp.

0k , does look odd and can be awkward manoeuvring under hive yo peek up through OMF but not too hard

I carry a mirror in the car. Not only to confirm my dashing good looks, but also to look into the hives from below when the need arises (which is not often)

If I am working around the hives at night, I use a red light. Using a red light is best done after dark, as it is difficult to see in the day.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Using a red light is best done after dark, as it is difficult to see in the day.

I find I don't need any colour artificial light in the day