For the first time ever, one of my stupid beekeeping tricks has lost me a hive. This past fall when I was putting my hives to bed, I set up the new hive and realized I didn't have an entrance reducer with me. I went back into the house to fetch one and couldn't find one, so I made one. I went back to put it in with a mouse guard in place and since it was getting late, just slapped it into place.

Last week my bees flew and I noticed no movement from the new hive, so I went to check it out. I heard no sounds. Bad, bad, bad. So, I opened up the hive the next day and found three VERY fat mice in the top, a super with honey still in the frames but with mouse trails chewed through them, and a hive full of starved bees in the bottom. The mice wouldn't allow the bees up into the top honey super so they all starved to death. I'm not sure if the bees were blocked into the hive or not. They had pushed the entrance reducer out about 1/4 inch before the bees managed to glue it into place so there was a hole about 1/4 inch by 1 inch. So, learn from my mistakes. Make sure that when you put that mouse guard on in the fall that you check RIGHT THEN to be sure you aren't imprisoning your pests in your hive! Boy, do I feel like an idiot! And the worst part is that these were the Russian bees that I just repopulated with to try out the mite resistant strain. Not only that, but with new shipping regulations being applied by USPS, I may not be able to get more Russians from the same source...they may be too far away. AARGH!

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), February 16, 2002

Answers

That should have read "I'm not sure if the mice were blocked into the hive or not." Not only don't I double check my hives, I don't even double check my threads!

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), February 16, 2002.

this USPS thing has come up a couple of times and I for some reason do not understand why people think they cannot ship bees. Here is a portion of the news release. What am I missing?

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USPS News: Mail Service News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 3, 2001

Live Animal Transport Update

In response to new Federal Aviation Administration restrictions, the Postal Service is adjusting the service it provides for the transportation of live animals.

The Postal Service will continue to accept live animals that do not require delivery within a 72-hour period, such as earthworms, lizards, snails, crickets, grasshoppers, and bees, which can move on ground transportation. Also, the Postal Service will continue to accept live animals for which the postage is $3.50 or less for shipment using air transportation.

-- laura (lauramleek@yahoo.com), February 16, 2002.

the mice didnt stop your bees from feeding,, at worst, the bees attacked the mice and dies that way,, or the starved before they could move to the honey or mites.

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 17, 2002.

I agree with Stan--a healthy hive of bees would have killed the mice or made it very uncomfortable!:) Did you check /treat for mites last fall? Do you have the "Hive beetle" where you are? Look for other problems. Good luck with finding the problem

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), February 17, 2002.

I did treat for mites in the fall. I don't have hive beetle...yet. The bees had died within a few days of when I opened the hive because I listen to my hive at least once a week. I checked them over and found nothing on them and could find no mites in the brood. There were no overt signs of disease, and the bees were in empty frames in the classic starvation position (head-first into the cells). All the frames in the two hivebodies were empty...the only honey was in the super on top. The super was riddled with mouse holes and there were NO bees up there, that's why I think the mice did in the hive. I have spoken to long-term beekeepers in the past that said it is possible for mice to kill a hive in this fashion. I'll have to get ahold of the state inspector and talk to him about it. I'll get back to you after I do.

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), February 17, 2002.

Laura, I recently received a catalog from Brushy Mountain Bee Farm that reads as follows:

"There are many problems with the post office delivering bees this year in addition to it being very expensive. They will only accept and ship bees to zone 4 from the producer. Should you live in zone 5 from the producer you cannot get bees."

That eliminates both of the breeders I've gotten bees from in the past. I suppose I'd better research some local apiaries that sell packages. What I'd really like is a feral hive, since it would be mite resistant. Any feral bees in this area are mite resistant at this point (or dead).

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), February 17, 2002.

Oh, I forgot to add last night that by appearances all the bees died at once (also I know they died within a short period of time because I listen to the hive each week) and there were PLENTY of bees in there (thus my heartbreak!).

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), February 18, 2002.