Weird white things in front of hive. What are they?

[goertzen29]

I'm not sure if these photo links will work...(this is my first time) but I'm wondering if anyone can identify

a) what these are?  larva maybe?

b) why they are here?

I've noticed a lot in front of this hive and a couple in front of one other hive.  Both are new packages this spring with Italian queens.

As a note, this hive had an apparent poisoning earlier this spring (over a month ago) as I witnessed maybe a hundred or more bees in various stages of crawling around and buzzing erratically and others dying.  Since that happened, it has appeared normal maybe slightly weaker, but not a lot.


https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Udcvs_jyzLGajfiirvoyBq8SUvsUQqs37PvMzdaJhLc?feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/spLde3RWrLqGQ3iId7zHH68SUvsUQqs37PvMzdaJhLc?feat=directlink


Any thoughts on what and why these are showing up at the entrance?

[vermmy35]

looks like you got some chalk brood problem going on and answer do (b) the bees are carrying them out to dump them

[goertzen29]

Is Chalk brood something to be really worried about? What causes it?
Other than the chalk brood being carried out the hive appears busy and well.

These packages were places in used frames that were supposedly disease free but could this have come with the frames?   Should I try to cull out the frames that were old/used and replace them with my own frames?  Or will this kind of just run its course, as the year goes on?

thanks
Jay

[vermmy35]

Personally I have not had a problem with chalk brood, but from everything I have read it comes from to much moister in the spring.  The really only way to control it is from using a screen bottom board or trying to control the moister of the hive.   

[AllenF]

You can prop the top of the hive open a little with a stick or a rock (if it is a strong hive) to get some air moving in the hive. 

[Kathyp]

most of the time it's self limiting.  warmer weather and dry conditions take care of it.  however, if it's bad enough it can really stunt the growth of a hive.  it is a fungus.

[Grieth]

Toss a banana onto the hive mat.  Common remedy among beeks in Melbourne, Australia.  No science to it, but seems to work down here.

[cam]

Just did that, slowed the chalk but has not eliminated it... they ate the whole banana in about a day. Been very wet here but only one hive with chalk. Replaced the queen yesterday.

[CeeGeeBee]

Toss a banana onto the hive mat.  Common remedy among beeks in Melbourne, Australia.  No science to it, but seems to work down here.

The whole banana (peel and all)? Or just the edible part?

[CapnChkn]

Grieth, what is a "hive mat," precisely?

I looked it up on google and I'm getting references to a piece of plastic, floor vinyl, old rug, and what we call "Burlap" here in the US.

Is this something like the Warré quilt?

[slacker361]

I think they are tic tacs.... maybe the bees need to brush their teeth.. :-D

[goertzen29]

It is humid here but not super wet this spring....I'll try the banana, and maybe cracking the top open a bit.

thanks
Jay

[cam]

Just the banana, peel it first.

The whole banana (peel and all)? Or just the edible part?
[/quote]

[D Semple]

Just the banana, peel it first.

The whole banana (peel and all)? Or just the edible part?

[/quote]

I don't know sounds like a treatment to me   :lau: :lau: :lau: :lau: :lau: :lau:

[Grieth]

Here we use a hive mat, which is just a piece of floor vinyl cut to sit on top of the frames in the top box of your hive.  It is large enough to cover the top bars (although not to the very outside edge of the outside frames,  and only long enough to stay inside the vertical bars of the frames.  There is nothing too precise about it.  No hole in the middle of it though. 

I don't peel the banana for the bees.  (lets face it you don't want your bees turning into little princesses refusing to do their house work  X:X)

I know the banana bit is weird  :piano:.  I have no scientific paper or other references for it and was very sceptical at first.  But, it seemed to work and it is hard to see it would do any harm.