hygenic behavior/mites/deformed wing, etc

Hivehead · July 08, 2008, 12:20:53 PM

Small colony perhaps 1.5 to 2lbs (covered most of 3 frames) captured 5/29 has now built up to covering 8 frames and then some in deep brood box. Outer frames are mostly drawn with
a uniform amount of nectar across entire frame both sides. Brood pattern is pretty awesome, all frames of brood are almost a complete expanse of tan capped cells with very few voids and the top corners filled with capped honey. Looks pretty good so far. Just place a 2nd deep brood box on top with only foundation (plastic with wax coating). Moved 2 frames of brood into top and filled voids with in bottom with frames with only foundation.

Looking at the tray under the screened BB, it appears they are busy drawing comb and fumbling the occasional pollen ball. There are also varroa stuck in the Pam I spray on the tray (8 or so in about 48 hours is the highest count) There's the history of the colony and hive setup.

Now the "situation" Cool mornings here, flying by 5:30. Some make a crash landing, stand around and after a couple minutes fly up and go in. Most are flying strong. As it warms up, all are flying strong, not crashing and practically running in the hive.

Occasionally one will bust out like a rocket (usually in the morning), hit the ground, can't fly and just be a crawler. I've seen some of these start turning circles and die in a few hours. I've only seen four or five at the most in a morning. BTW: they don't have tattered wings like they're old. look pretty young.

Several times a day and at night a pupa gets dragged out and thrown to the wind. Pretty white, sometimes looks like it's been chewed on a bit. I've also seen some newly emerged bees look like they've just been given the boot but not very many.

Yesterday one was buzzing around like a taxiing turbo prop. upon closer inspection, deformed wings, just like the pictures.

There's lots of strong healthy activity, it seems, lots of foraging, pollen going in, nectar gatherers, etc, and it is a small percentage compared to the overall population of the colony.
I don't know if this is normal or if I should begin to worry and would greatly appreciate some insight and advice. Even though they didn't cost anything, I want them to make it to Spring.

Sorry for droning on....JOHN

Jerrymac · July 08, 2008, 01:02:26 PM

I am just wondering. Did you put these bees an large cell, small cell, or natural cell.

And.... were they an established colony or just a swarm you got. If established colony, did you do any cell measuring.

Hivehead · July 08, 2008, 01:56:09 PM

No cell measuring. They were a newly established colony in a sprinkler valve box with perhaps a frame of drawn comb when I kidnapped them from the school. I'm not sure what kind of foundation I got. I seem to recall "Medium" somewhere. let me get out my millimeter stick and check a little here.

KONASDAD · July 08, 2008, 03:16:30 PM

might be mites, but doesn't sound bad yet. treat or do sugar shake. A few die all the time, no biggies. Just keep observing as you have been...

Wax Moth · July 08, 2008, 03:23:18 PM

Deformed wings usually caused by virus and viruses take hold when varroa gives them a way in. Quickest fix is to treat for varroa, which you are doing.

The crash landings and the K wing can also be caused by poisoning... hope no farmers or neighbours are spraying pesticides??? Not much you could do about this :'(

The white mummified larvae could be a good sign - hygenic behaviour throwing out sick or dead ones OR a bad sign-chalkbrood. Lots of mummified looking very white corpses being thrown out would definitely be chalkbrood - which is one of the less serious diseases.

Can you post a photo of a frame of brood? Then easier to tell.

Good luck

Hivehead · July 08, 2008, 04:52:21 PM

As near as I can tell, the come they were drawing in the sprinkler box was 5mm. I'm not sure what they're doing now. The few pupae they throw out are white, sort and still alive if they haven't chewed on them.

I'll take some pictures next time I'm in. I'm thinking that it's par for the course seeing the mites and I'll dust em up next time or maybe even tonight when more of them are home, see what falls out. I even read somewhere that a healthy dose of smoke for 30 secs. to a minute will make the mites jump ship and fall out the bottom. Maybe the double whammy, little extra smoke, dowda powda and keep watchin.

Brian D. Bray · July 08, 2008, 11:29:32 PM

Quote from: Hivehead on July 08, 2008, 04:52:21 PM
As near as I can tell, the come they were drawing in the sprinkler box was 5mm. I'm not sure what they're doing now. The few pupae they throw out are white, sort and still alive if they haven't chewed on them.

I'll take some pictures next time I'm in. I'm thinking that it's par for the course seeing the mites and I'll dust em up next time or maybe even tonight when more of them are home, see what falls out. I even read somewhere that a healthy dose of smoke for 30 secs. to a minute will make the mites jump ship and fall out the bottom. Maybe the double whammy, little extra smoke, dowda powda and keep watchin.

Sounds like a plan. Bees that can't contribute to the hive any longer do the hari kari regardless of age. Any bee that gets poisoned will leave or be ejected from the hive. I would bet the pupae being ejected is mostly drone, kind of hard to tell in the pupae stage without internal inspection. The bees will begin ejecting drone larvae once a swarm urge is over or to conserve stores and will always do so before tucking in for the winter.