mattiker
New Bee
Hi,
Did an inspection yesterday - top brood box of a Snelgrove artificial swarm - which on last inspection (about 2 weeks ago) appeared to have a newly mated and laying queen and eggs, however checked again yesterday no sign of eggs or brood. It did have lots of capped honey stores and pollen (more than any other hive I have at the minute) but where the brood might have been it was a milky type liquid - with white bits in... my first thought was - has the brood succumbed to some disease and just died and then started rotting....I couldn't really make out any signs of actual larvae - just this milky stuff. I stick the end of my hive tool in it had a good poke and it was a little like honey - no obviously smell. Slightly concerned now. I did think perhaps they could have starved but they have loads of capped stores and loads of pollen...very odd.
I'd appreciate your views. Thanks.
Matt
Did an inspection yesterday - top brood box of a Snelgrove artificial swarm - which on last inspection (about 2 weeks ago) appeared to have a newly mated and laying queen and eggs, however checked again yesterday no sign of eggs or brood. It did have lots of capped honey stores and pollen (more than any other hive I have at the minute) but where the brood might have been it was a milky type liquid - with white bits in... my first thought was - has the brood succumbed to some disease and just died and then started rotting....I couldn't really make out any signs of actual larvae - just this milky stuff. I stick the end of my hive tool in it had a good poke and it was a little like honey - no obviously smell. Slightly concerned now. I did think perhaps they could have starved but they have loads of capped stores and loads of pollen...very odd.
I'd appreciate your views. Thanks.
Matt