The Honey Factory

[BirdsBeesTrees]

It's important to learn how to identify pests, diseases, and understand the life cycle/biology of honeybees if you want overwintering success. Bees dont swarm in December but will abscond if they are dying from disease and pests in a last-ditch effort to save the colony. Did you treat for mites and did the treatment work? Any signs of brood disease? If you lose a hive, there's a few things you can check. Scattered dead brood with pinholes in the capping's. Mite feces on the tops of the brood cells, looks like patches of white crystals. Take a cup of the dead bees and do a wash and mite count and you'll have your answer as to why your bees died.

Thank you for your time! I appreciate it.
Well, I did treat with Hopguard II as I try to rotate my treatments every year.
There were hardly any dead bees in the hive at all, maybe 20.
Ok, the white crystals I did notice after they were gone - in the cool spring. When I looked it up it, I found that it was crystallized sugar. Wild bees were robbing the empty hive.
Every time I think I've got things figured out something else goes wrong...
Picture from earlier this year:

 

[Apis mellifera]

Thank you for your time! I appreciate it.
Well, I did treat with Hopguard II as I try to rotate my treatments every year.
There were hardly any dead bees in the hive at all, maybe 20.
Ok, the white crystals I did notice after they were gone - in the cool spring. When I looked it up it, I found that it was crystallized sugar. Wild bees were robbing the empty hive.
Every time I think I've got things figured out something else goes wrong...

It can be frustrating for sure, it's part of the challenge. HopGuard II is now HopGuard III, I never used it because too many beekeepers reported poor efficacy. Don't worry about rotating treatments, thats for the big outfits. You or I won't even be remotely responsible for any mite treatment resistance. Stick with what works, formic, oxalic, or thymol. Do mite counts after treatments to see if they worked. The frame you posted is a honey frame and does have sugar crystalized. What you want to look for is tiny white crystal in the brood frames.

 

[duluthralphie]

I was worried I had lost my bees. It appears not!

The WW said she could not hear any noise in the hive. I being deafish took her word for it.

I just looked at the new snow in front of my hives. They are still alive.

 

[R2elk]

I was worried I had lost my bees. It appears not!

The WW said she could not hear any noise in the hive. I being deafish took her word for it.

I just looked at the new snow in front of my hives. They are still alive.

View attachment 2927069View attachment 2927072

No dead bees in the snow in front of my hives.

 

[duluthralphie]

As long was there aren’t thousands of them I am happy. It lets me know they are still alive, eating, pooping and dying.

 

[R2elk]

As long was there aren’t thousands of them I am happy. It lets me know they are still alive, eating, pooping and dying.

It's really windy here which keeps them in the hives even when its warm enough out.

 

[Apis mellifera]

If anyone is interested this is a good webinar Tuesday evening.

Thoughts about Keeping Bees Alive: Sustainable Beekeeping Essentials with Larry Connor


When: Dec 14, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time
Topic: Thoughts about Keeping Bees Alive:
Sustainable Beekeeping Essentials
- a NY Bee Wellness Webinar


This webinar will be useful for beginners and experienced beekeepers.


Register in advance for this webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_j3y9kGR3RFK0eKLAQHwO3Q


After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
This is a view and listen webinar; attendees can type in questions.
Registration must be received 1 hour BEFORE the webinar begins.

----------

Webinar Speaker

Lawrence Connor (@Wicwas Press)
Lawrence Connor was born in Kalamazoo Michigan and earned his doctorate in honey-bee pollination of crops at Michigan State University. He has worked as Extension Bee Specialist at The Ohio State University, owns and operates Wicwas Press, specializing in publication of quality bee books. He has edited and published over two dozen books and recently written: Increase Essentials (2006), Bee Sex Essentials (2008), Queen Rearing Essentials, Bee-sentials: A Field Guide, Swarm Essentials (with Steve Repasky), Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping (with Dewey Caron), Increase Essentials Second Edition and Mating Biology of honey bees (with G. and N. Koeniger and J. Ellis). In 2019 he published Keeping Bees Alive and in 2020 he released Package Essentials. www.wicwas.com
Connor was a frequent contributor to The American Bee Journal and to Bee Culture Magazine. He travels extensively and lectures on a wide range of subjects concerning honey bees, bee breeding, pollination and colony management.

 

[R2elk]

It's 52°F. The good producing hive and the Saskatraz are out and flying. The suspect hive had no activity and is completely empty. The bees cleaned it out and went home.

With how mild it has been I am concerned that too many bees are trying to make it through the winter. I have seen very little evidence of dead bees.

 

[jerryse]

On these wam days I see bees from all 4 hives . So all alive . It will be awhile before I can do much so they are on their own for awhile .

 

[duluthralphie]

Freshly dead bees outside the hive in new snow this morning. I hope to see flying bees tomorrow.