Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: salvo on October 12, 2013, 01:46:06 pm
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Hi Folks,
Southeast Massachusetts. Five hives winding down. No varroa tratment. One hive, one deep & two meds, Carni, bottom entrance partially closed, had a big bee die off a couple of weeks ago. Plenty of bees still left. Queen still has a small amount of brood in lower medium, of two. The lower deep was clean and empty, and in good condition. No damage. I took it off. Very little stores, like it was taken out. A few SHB, but coralled by bees. I killed them. Comb appears "normal". No SHB slime.
I gave them a upper entrance mid week. They use it. There is a crescent patch where they walk that is stickey and clumpy, like debis/pollen/junk from inside is getting "tracked" onto the face of the hive.
In three years I have only seen clean, clean landing spots. This is only happenning on one of five hives in the yard.
No "K wings".
What could be going on?
Salvo
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Propolis maybe? If they're tracking it to the face of the box, then anyrhing their bringing out will get stuck to that.
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Mine are doing it to. It didn't start until the golden rod exploded around here so I figured that was the cause.
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Visible footprints at entrances can indicate robbing activity. It may be worthwhile to check it out more closely.
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Thank you T Beek.
Robbing! Queen gone. Hive virtually empty.
Great comb to start new package next year. :-\
Sad to see it gone so thoroughly. No obvious fighting. Only what appeared to be orientation???!!!
I have an unexpectedly strong and populated hive of Italians about ten feet away. Two full deeps and a medium that was only a "wet" that they filled since end of August.
I'm taking that medium today, to pay for the package next spring. VENDETTA!
Salvo
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Hmmm... guess they were more sticky-fingered than sticky footed...;) Sorry to joke about such a thing, but I'll be watching for that sign from now on..