Month: October 2018

Dakota18B colony has completely absconded. Hive inspection up until now have shown a healthy but average sized colony. Hive was full of resources and not diseased. This represents the 3rd time in 2 years that a commercially sourced bee colony has for some reason just disappeared. There are a fair number of dead bees left in the bottom of the hive but not nearly enough to account for the entire hive. I have seen this exact same scenario 3 times previously. Hive body full of resources. Hive treated for mites with oxalic acid. Sometime in mid to late fall, entire colony just disappears.

WildCA18B colony inspected. No eggs can be found. All brood frames have been back filled with nectar. Queen cannot be found. Colony may be queen-less. However we are far too late in the season to re-queen. Will check in spring to find queen or eggs. Colony given a top sugar board and closed up.

Dakota18A colony has collapsed. Prior inspections showed a healthy and highly productive colony. Colony was treated with an aggressive schedule for mites using oxalic acid. Today’s inspection shows 5 warre boxes full of resources and only a few dead bees left in the hive. I will keep the honey and frames for next years colonies.