All but about 20 bees survived the winter, need some advice

[dwbrinton]

Discouraging.  Went to check on my hive this week and it looks like they were poisoned!  The honey is untouched, there are massive amounts of dead bees in the hive and only about 20 bees still alive, no sign of a queen or eggs or brood.

The frames look eerily like it did just after I did the last inspection and preparation for winter, the frame feeder is about 3/4 full, all of the honey is still there.  My guess is that I miscalculated my dosing on the Terramycin/powdered sugar!? and basically killed my bees in the fall. 

I'm super bummed out about it, any other possible explanation?

Do I need to order another box of bees and a queen?

Dave
Salt Lake City, UT

[woodchopper]

Sorry to hear about this Dave. Sounds like you're seeing the final end of your bees. Hard telling what really happened but you're going to need another package without question. I'd order one ASAP and get ready to clean up your equipment as soon as the rest of your bees die.

[AllenF]

20 bees can not make a hive.  Dump them them out.  They are most likely robbers.   Freeze your honey frames until you can get a package.   What did you do for mites last fall? 

[jmblakeney]

Is it possible that you rolled your queen during your last inspection last year? 

James

[hardwood]

Why are you using terramycin to begin with?

Scott

[dwbrinton]

Thanks for the replies.

Terramycin?  To prevent foulbrood, recommended by local bee shop and my book about bees.  Is that not standard recommendation/treatment?

No mite treatment, this is my first season, got the bees in April 2011 and haven't looked closely for Varroa mites, could have been mites!  I'll have to stay on top of that this year...

I could have killed the queen.

Thanks again.

[Michael Bush]

I would search the bottom board for Varroa and look in the brood cells for little white flecks aka Varroa feces.  If you don't find thousands of Varroa, then you can rule out Varroa.

[dwbrinton]

Michael Bush, I think you are right.  After reading your post, I did notice white feces? in several of the brood cells and the bottom of my hive was filled with mites along with my dead bees, just didn't look close enough.

Terrible!  This is a great learning experience, unfortunately at the cost of my bees.

I've basically cleaned out the  hive of all dead bees, do I need to start over to prevent the recurrence of Varroa?  I assume they die off with the bees and the winter?  Can I still use the built out frames?

I can google it, or if anyone knows of a good place to read up on this, many thanks!

Dave

[Kathyp]

you can reuse the frames.  i like to freeze mine just to kill off whatever might be on them, but in this case, you probably don't need to do that unless you want to. 

you are not going to prevent varroa.  you are going to develop a plan to manage them.  if you are getting packages, you are most likely getting bees who have been treated.  they will need continued help to deal with the mites.  as you gain more experience over the years, you'll be able to tell how much help, and when.  for now, and with a new package, you'll need to plan on treating at the end of summer or beginning of fall depending on what you are using and your weather.

don't get discouraged.  i had a 50% loss this year.  it happens.  last year, i only lost 2 out of 8 (i think) and they were expected. 

you might want to go to the removal section and learn about catching swarms and doing cutouts.  cutouts are not everyone's cup of tea, but most swarms are pretty easy and help you increase your yard....+ if you are lucky, you get survivor types that don't require as much  management. :-)

[buzzbee]

A frame feeder full syrup over winter? That  may have contributed too much moisture.