All over America, beekeepers are opening up their hives in preparation for the spring pollination season, only to find that their bees are dead or have disappeared.
Varroa has not turned out too badly so far but could get much worse. Look for an almost complete absence of fruit in that case.
2 comments:
I wouldn't take it too seriously. I used to keep bees when I was young and it is normal you tuck your bees in for the winter well supplied with enough food and large enough to get through the winter you look at them next spring and they are dead. Most of Britain's bee colonies were wiped out during the first world war due to a mite that infested the breathing tubes it was a very serious problem at the time but the bees recovered. the problem is most likely very simple. I have lost bee colonies in spring because the local farmer sprayed his crops with insecticide when they were in full bloom killing off the field bees who brought in the honey. The hive literally starved in fields of plenty. I suspect something similar perhaps a pest that they have not been able to identify. Rest assured bees have been around long before man trod this earth and will be around long after mankind is dead and gone
Yorkshireminer,
Nice to hear from you!
I'm delighted that you feel so relaxed about it. I kept bees for a while, stopping just after varroa became a problem in the UK. It seemed to be getting quite worrisome but perhaps it was over-hyped.
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