This colony was strong 3 weeks ago... now, only fair.
(http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/2520/1000622.th.jpg) (http://img135.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000622.jpg)
Looks like poop to me. Has the weather kept them cooped up lately? Makes me think of dysentery or maybe even Nosema but I can't say I'd really be able to tell the difference. From what I've read feeding them should enable them to clear their guts, so between that and a little good weather they should recover fairly quickly I would guess.
While I am the farthest thing from an expert, my guess would be nosema or if this is the first time they have been out all winter then maybe its their cleansing flights.
Check out these threads.
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,20587.0.html
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,6536.0.html
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,20953.0.html
There are more threads, just do a search for nosema or dysentary.
Fermented hiker responded while I was still typing, but he is right about feeding them if it is nosema.
One of the threads I linked for you mentions that feeding clears it up and its nothing to really worry about.
It also could just be their cleansing flights.
I thought feces at first too but for some reason nosema came to mind and I don't even know what it is. Two other colonies are lightly spattered and one..just barely.
Nosema is dysentary, if it is nosema feeding them should clear up their gut.
>Nosema is dysentary
No. Nosema is not dysentary. Dysentary is dysentary. Nosema is one possible cause of dysentary. Too many solids in their food. Long confinement. These are the most common causes of dysentary.
> if it is nosema feeding them should clear up their gut.
That is true and will help them regardless of if it is Nosema or not. :)
http://www.bushfarms.com/beespests.htm#nosema