Got 2 packages this spring. ! is doing great, the other is not so great. I checked them the other day, and found abandoned brood, with black spots on their bodies. Any ideas what is happening?

-- STAN (sopal@net-port.com), May 19, 2000

Answers

Did you look closely at the black spots? Did they have legs? Use a good magnifying glass and see. Varroa mites are the bane of bees these days. They can be found easily in the brood. Usually in an infected colony you can find 3 or 4 on just about every larva you pick out of the cells, sometimes more. They also get on the adult bees, sucking the life out of them. Eventually they weaken and die (the bees that is). Did you put Apistan strips in the hives to help against the mites? These days you just about have to or you can kiss all the bees bye bye. Look on the bottom board of the weak hive. You will probably see many mites craweling around or lying dead there. If this is your problem, you must treat the bees soon or you will lose the whole hive. Best to treat the other hive too, chances are if one hive is infected, the other is too, just not as bad. Welcome to the fascinating world of beekeeping! Yeah, there a few pitfalls, like the mites, but otherwise this is a great hobby. Les

-- Les (lvaughn@suntransformer.com), May 19, 2000.

Hi Stan, Sorry to hear of your plight so early in your attempt but, have faith, and lets see what we can do to fix this. I just realized how hard it is to communicate a picture in words. I tend to agree it is probably mites. Let's forget about a honey crop this year and correct the problem. APISTAN strips now along with a hearty dusting of terramycin 25 mixed-- 1/2 teaspoon of terramycin to 3/4 teaspoonful of powedered sugar. Dust each hive 2 to 3 times with a 7 to 10 day interval between dustings.Dust right over the frames and some on entrance to hive body. Leave stips in for 42 days --(no more--no less). If you have a supra on the hive, than leave it for winter stores this year. How is the queen ? Hearty,being cared for ? Is she laying a good pattern despite the brood problems? Here is an address that you can send a sample of brood comb to for inspection-- free of charge. Microbiolgist,Bioenvironmental labratory, Beltsville Maryland 20705 The specimen must be 4 or 5 inches square. I also have recently acquired a listing for bee clubs and local inspectors nationwide. Don't be discouraged--we are all in this together. Losing a hive is not losing a war--fight on. Joel

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), May 19, 2000.

I used Check-Mite strips this year. They are supposed to control the hive beetle as well. FYI, my supply shop is recommending them in alternating years with Apistan strips. The varroa may be developing a resistance to Apistan.

Does anybody know if they are subject to a strict period within the hive as Joel suggests for Apistan strips?

-- Mike O (olsonmr@yahoo.com), May 19, 2000.

I check on the spots, no legs. no mites at all, (bottom board or anything), could the brood have gotton chilled? would that turn them black? STAN

-- (sopal@net-port.com), May 19, 2000.

Do you have any healthy brood, Stan--or are all the brood affected ? What is the daily temperature there ? I think we need some of the brood tested. Don't get scared but when I heard black and brood, I am thinking foulbrood. Are the larvae sticky ? Don't panic, let us work through this. I need some more info--I could afford to call you if you think it would help.

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), May 19, 2000.