- StevenG

The Hypothesis:  To demonstrate that honey bees can be kept successfully for honey production without chemical treatments.

Background

My first hive of honey bees was a 2.5 pound package purchased May 1, 1971, from Montgomery Ward’s, for $11.95. I was living in Enid, OK and kept the hive in the back yard of the house I was renting, as I was in Seminary. That year it did not produce a surplus. My first queen purchase was in 1971, and she cost $2.75, post paid.

By August 1972 my first hive had produced 210 lbs. 8 oz. of surplus honey, in town. On April 16, 1973, that hive swarmed. I caught the swarm and hived it. I had to purchase a “complete hive” (bottom board, deep super and frames, foundation, inner cover, telescoping outer cover), extra deep super, 5 shallow supers, and a queen excluder from Montgomery Wards. Total cost including tax was $55.17.

By the time I sold out in 1986 I had 16 hives, averaging 125 pounds of honey from each. From a low of 0, to a high of 220 pounds. I used primarily Starline Bees from York Bee Company.

When I decided to resume beekeeping in 2005, I knew things had changed, so I began by subscribing once again to Gleanings in Bee Culture, except the name had changed to Bee Culture. I also picked up a new copy of The Hive and the Honey Bee. My reading and study indicated that I had to deal with trachael mites and Varroa mites, as well as the Small Hive Beetle, and possibly a new strain of Nosema. Starlines were no longer available, and there were many new choices.

I decided to use bees that were resistant, and did not require chemical treatments.

Based on the book The Backyard Beekeeper I decided to use 8-frame medium equipment. I ordered 2 – 3# packages of “Allstar” bees from B. Weaver, in Navasota, TX. They were hived April 8, 2006. In April 2007, I switched from medium 8-frame to medium 10-frame. Neither hive built up and produced as I thought they should, so I converted in March/April 2008 to 10-frame deep equipment.

At that time, I used foundation, fed sugar syrup, and treated with Fumagilin-B for Nosema.

Now, February 2010, I have 14 colonies that seem to be thriving.

Purpose of this Report

Originally I had planned to call this a “Study” but since it will be more of a report, with no control colonies on my part, I’m simply going to call it a Report.

My purpose in doing this is to discern the long-term viability of my colonies by not treating for mites. I did not medicate for Nosema in 2009, and because of some controversy about the detrimental effects of medications in the gut of healthy bees on their beneficial microbes, at this point I am discontinuing preventive treatments with Fumigilin-B.

The success or failure of this program will be revealed by the hives that survive, and those that die. Some have stated that bees not treated will crash. Well, all colonies run the risk of dying out. Does failure to treat guarantee death to the colony? I don’t think so. We’ll see.

NOTE! I am the first to admit this is not a scientific study. It is simply a thorough report on one beekeeper’s experience of going treatment-free, while expanding the number of colonies and attempting to get a honey harvest. If someone thinks something different should be done, I invite you to do it, and post it here on the BeeSource Forum. If someone thinks we should have a survey type scientific study, construct such an instrument, and do it. I am not a scientist. I’m simply reporting on what I’m doing, and the results. I want to see if going treatment-free is a viable option for the contemporary beekeeper. I believe we’ll have a better understanding, at the conclusion of this six-year report.

Methodology:

1.  The Bees.  My studies indicate the key to Treatment Free is the selection of bees.  I have sought out those strains of bees that have been raised without treatment.  My sources to date have been:

a)  B. Weaver “Allstars”, packages and queens.  www.beeweaver.com

b)  Purvis Brothers, for queens.  Although their business is for sale, I do not know the status of their operation.

c)  Minnesota Hygenic, from several different sources.

d)  Russians, from both Jester Bee Co.  (www.jesterbee.com/Beesales.html and Hubert Tubbs Apiaries (www.russianbreeder.org)

e)  In the next couple of years I plan to look at adding SMR and VSH bees to the mix.  And I’ll be open to other possibilities as they become available.

By using these strains, and maintaining my records, I hope to discover which strains do best in my geographical area, both for survival, and honey production.

2. “No Treatment” means I shall not put any medications in my hives. Nothing for mites, nothing for Nosema. No essential oils, no powdered sugar dustings, no treatments of any kind.

3. I will however trap for the Small Hive Beetle. What works for me at this time is the cd jewel box, baited with crisco, powdered sugar, and boric acid. The beetles can get into the case, but can’t get out. Bees cannot get in, if I don’t make the openings too large. I have had more success with this, than with Hoods, or AJ’s beetle traps. For me, the West trap is simply too expensive. There may be other methods I might consider as they arise.

4. Mite counts. This will scandalize some, but I will not do mite counts. See #1 and #5.

5. Variables. There are many reasons a colony dies. It goes hopelessly queenless; it absconds; it is robbed out; ants; skunks; bears; wasps; disease; starvation; lack of sufficient forage; beekeeper negligence; beekeeper error; the list goes on. It is my intent in my reportage that we can see what may have killed or caused a colony’s demise. It is my hope and plan that the variables can be accounted for. Time will tell.

6. Deformed Wing Virus. Whenever I check my hives through the year, I examine bees for dwv.  I particularly look at any dead bees I might find.  Observations will be reported for each hive.

7. I will begin the report when I hived my first packages April 8, 2006. I will end the report in November or December, 2011. That will give a total of 6 seasons, four that have past, and two coming. One commenter on the forum said such a test could only take a month. I believe six years is a more valid test.

- This will cover all splits, additional honey bee purchases, requeenings, etc. etc. etc. Anything I do with the hives will be reported.

- We will know which type of bees I use, and how they perform under the same management practices.

8. My apiaries are stationary.

a) I have 3 apiaries currently, will be expanding to 4 this season.

b) #1 is called “Home.” These hives are in my back yard, in the city of Poplar Bluff, Missouri. This locale produces a dark, stronger but good honey.

c) #2 is called “Mark A.” It is on approximately 200 acres of white clover pasture in the Mark Twain National Forest, 9.5 miles NW of my home. This locale produces a typical light clover honey.

d) #3 is called “Mark B.” It is on the same land as Mark A, but 1/2 mile further north. The reason for this is that Mark A has no room for more than 10 colonies.

e) #4 is called “Jan.” It is on land owned by a friend, approximately 3 miles as the crow files from the Mark apiaries. This too is in the Mark Twain National Forest. Forage is mixed, with very little clover. Mainly trees, wildflowers, local gardens, etc. This locale produces a darker, but good flavored honey.

9. Expansion. I currently (February 20, 2010) have 14 colonies. By the end of this season I hope to have 32-38 colonies. By the end of 2011 when this program concludes, I plan to have at least 50 colonies.

10. Honey production. I keep bees because I find them interesting. They get me outdoors, and keep my physically active. I build my own equipment. But I need the honey production to finance them, as well as in a few years fund my desire for travel and fun. I will report on the honey production each year, of each hive.

11. Weather. As weather plays an important role in the life of the honeybee, I am beginning a daily calendar diary of our local weather. However, it will be based primarily on what happens at my house, as this is where I am all the time. Weather, particularly rain or snowfall, will be different between the various apiaries, because of distance involved.

12. Queens. I am currently using Purvis, Russians, B. Weaver “Allstar”, and Minnesota Hygenic. I plan to add SMR or VSH stock as well. From my studies all indications are that the more varied your genetics, the stronger your bees. With the exception of the Russians – they have an apparent need to be kept pure. But the more varied the behavioral traits in the colony, the more apt they’ll take care of all the problems. My goal is to eventually let my bees raise their own queens, and interbreed with whatever is out there. For this reason I mark my queens but do not clip. If they swarm, I want them to swarm successfully! That can only help my requeening program. I calculate that five years from now I’ll have what others have called “mutts.” But if they thrive and survive and produce bees and honey, what’s the loss.

Materials:

Each hive will be on blocks of wood, a hive stand, screened bottom board, slatted rack, two deeps for the brood nest, a medium or shallow for honey reserves over winter, and shallow extracting supers. Inner Cover and Telescoping outer cover.

I will run 10 frames (converting to foundationless this year) in the brood nest, and 9 frames in the extracting supers.

Feeding: I attempt to leave enough honey on for winter stores. Two brood boxes, as the bees fill them, plus a shallow or medium super for additional winter stores. I will feed sugar syrup as needed, especially to stimulate brood rearing and comb building. I will also feed Mega Bee, per instructions.

I do not wrap in the winter.

The Experiment

We will follow each of my colonies for a period of six years. At this point it will be in narrative form. At the end of each year I will give a summary overview. Bees used, how they compared to each other. Which ones (if any) died. As the program evolves, I may add in other data. I plan to keep this simple, and cheap. Time is also precious to me. Reports will be made when appropriate. Sometimes monthly, sometimes weekly, depending on the time of the year.

Weather. I am going to construct and keep a calendar that notes weather conditions, and bloom.

Conclusions. I think any conclusion will be obvious: Either the colony died, or it didn’t. I got a honey crop, or I didn’t.

The records I keep are for my use and growth.  This project is helping me improve my record-keeping.  If this is beneficial to you, I am pleased.  Thank you for reading.

2006

The first two colonies built up well, but don’t know why they didn’t make a surplus this first year.  Might have been weather, or small brood nest.   In 2007, convert to 10-frame medium.  No honey surplus this year.

2007

Trying to get the model T’s ready for next year’s Centennial Celebration put me behind. I lost swarms. HAVE to do better next year. Mediums just don’t seem to be cutting it for me. Switch to deep brood boxes next year. Make 5 shallows for each colony.  Buy some MnHygenic next year. Harvested 43 pounds of dark, but nicely flavored, honey.

2008

Ordered the MnH package early January. Both hives swarmed. Conversion to deeps went well, but set me back. MnH package did well. Small Hive Beetle a bit of a problem… Hood’s aren’t working for me. Ordered AJ’s, they helped. Hive tool did the best job . Started the year with 2 colonies, completed with 3. In December I ordered two Russian nucs, and 3 B. Weaver queens for next spring. Harvested 80 pounds of good flavored, dark honey, from the three hives. All things considered, not bad.

2009

My plan, split my three hives with new queens up to six. Add the two nucs. I read somewhere that late season splits with new queens would get better queens from breeders, and would enable build-up for winter. So order 6 queens to arrive after the flow, and make splits up to 14 hives.

Hive #2 died. Did not take pictures, will next time. Thus March 1, I started with two live hives, got my two Russian nucs, and by making splits, completed 2009 with 14 colonies. My second 6 queens came from Purvis, but later than planned. This was not a good idea, got to plan better for 2010.

In marking queens for introduction, sigh… two of them flew away… never could get them back. Queen muff ordered, arrived for next time. That mistake won’t happen again.

Started with 2 colonies, ended with 14. Harvested 151 pounds of honey.

Fall, read about the Mountain Camp Method of feeding dry sugar. Not wanting to risk losing any colonies, I’m trying that this year.

December, ordered 2 Russian nucs, and 2 MnH nucs and 6 queens, for early spring pickup.

 2010

I began 2010 with 14 colonies.  As of March 15, I have lost only one, hive #4.  All the rest are being fed sugar syrup if needed. 

Individual Hive Details

 HIVE #1 -  Purvis queen

2006

April 8 - Hived in 8-frame medium equipment. Fed sugar syrup frequently.

June 8 – Colony consists of 3 meds of brood, 2 honey supers.

June 20 – Removed entrance reducer

June 22 – 3 clusters/clumps of bees on entrance board.

June 24 – Very agitated. Queenless?

July 8 – About the same.

July 23 – Some sealed honey in supers 4 &5. Supers 1-3 are brood.

August 6 – No real change

Oct.-Nov. – Fed three gallons of sugar syrup.

2007

Feb. 22 - Temp. was 65, bees bringing in pollen.

Feb. 27 - same

Mar. 9 - Warm enough to check brood nest. Honey and pollen bound. Did a little rearranging.  Have not needed to feed.

April ? - Wish I had noted the date! put super of foundation on. Now 6 medium 8-frames tall.

April 29 - Switched from 8-frame medium to 10-frame mediums. Nice brood pattern, but brood onlyin two boxes, one box empty.  Convert in 2008 to 10-frame deep.

Labor day weekend – Pulled one partially filled super. 22 pounds of honey extracted.

Sept. 29 - Very little sealed honey. Removed 2 empty supers, left three for brood and stores.  Danger of starving. Apparently no fall flow.

Oct. 3 - Fed 1 gallon syrup.

Oct. 7 - Feed gone, gave another gallon.  drought this year has hurt!

2008

Spring – Got behind! Switched over to 10-frame deeps, put brood on bottom, let them move up into foundation. When medium boxes emptied on bottom, I pulled them to use for extracted honey.   Lost a swarm… my mistake. Queens for requeening did not arrive as soon as hoped.

Mid-April -  Queens arrived from Weaver, requeened. Hive building up into second 10-frame deep.

July 1 – Two deep brood boxes on bottom, two mediums for honey on top. Brood nicely done, boxes fairly full of pollen, brood, and honey.  Two mediums not so heavy.Labor Day weekend – Pulled one partially filled medium super, left the other on. Extracted 20 pounds dark honey. Nice flavor though.

2009

Spring - The hive apparently was superceded. Might have lost a swarm. It is HOT!!!

April 16 – Made a split with a new B. Weaver Queen, left old queen in hive #1. New split became hive #2, replacing dead-out (see notes, hive #2).

May 7 - Purvis Queens arrived! Requeened and split again. #1 now has a PURVIS queen, and new split is now #6, with Purvis queen, moved to Jan’s.

July 12 - Building up good.

August 1 - Split again! #1 remains at home with original (Purvis) queen. New #9 moved to Mark A.  Installed deep foundation to replace removed comb. Hive consists of one deep brood box, 3 medium 10-frame. Did not have another deep box, so left two mediums on top of the deep, for brood.

Labor Day - Pulled super, extracted 29 pounds of honey. Left 2 mediums on as food chambers.

November - Gave 5# sugar, Mountain Camp Method… I’m slightly paranoid.

Dec. 14 – Still had at least 4 pounds of the dry sugar, but they have taken a little bit.

2010

Jan. 26 - Cluster seems to be in the bottom brood box. Top two med. supers still have sealed honey. At least 3/4 of the 5# dry sugar remains.

Feb 20 - Bright sunny day, temp 57. Bees very active, and bringing in pollen. Not sure where – no dandelions, no redbuds yet.

Mar. 15 -  almost 5 pounds of granulated sugar there, removed it, removed the super around it.  Top medium super had some sealed honey, empty comb.  Next medium super down had brood, very little honey, some pollen.  Did not go further, the weather was too cool, bees too angry.  I put a feeder on, and will add syrup tonight.

HIVE #2 -B. Weaver queen

June 8 – 3 supers of brood, real solid. 2 honey supers, 1 filling, 1 foundation still.

June 18 – Super 5, some white wax.

June 20 – Left entrance reducer in.

June 22 – Bees doing well, very active.

June 24 – #5 still empty, #4 partial honey.

July 8 – #5 empty, #4 almost fully sealed.

July 23 – Backfilling into #3, reversed supers 4 and 5.

Aug. 6 – no real change

Oct/Nov. – Fed 3 gallons of syrup in zip lock bags. Did not harvest any honey.

April 8 – Hived on 8-frame medium. Feeding.

2007

Feb. 22 -Temp 65, bees bringing in pollen

Feb. 27 – ditto

Mar. 9 - Temp warm enough to check brood. Honey and pollen bound, did some rearranging. Have not needed to feed.

April – Installed super of foundation

April 29 - Converted from 8-frame to 10-frame. Did not find queen, but eggs and larvae.   One brood box empty.  Convert to deep in 2008.

Oct. 3 – Fed gallon of syrup

Oct. 7 - Feed gone, gave another gallon.  Drought this year has hurt!

March 1 – Hive is dead. Did a postmortem, made a big mistake by not taking pictures. Will next time. Very slight evidence of wax moth in top two supers, maybe 12 cells in all.

• Top super: 5 frames sealed honey and empty brood cells, 2 with a few scattered sealed brood, and a teacup-small half-dollar size cluster of dead bees.
• 3 frames of sealed honey. 2 outside frames empty.
• Bottom super: 4 frames empty, 6 frames sealed and unsealed honey. A very few scattered dead bees. Some sealed and emerging (dead) brood on 3 frames.
• Top brood box: 1 ½ empty frames, lots of pollen and sealed honey on other frames. 28 sealed brood scattered over 2 frames.
• Bottom brood box: 1 outside frame completely empty. 3 frames with bands of honey. Rest had pollen, a couple lots of it, maybe 2 doz. Dead bees scattered.
• Bottom board: about half covered with dead bees, did not find queen. Several dead bees had Deformed Wing Virus. No evidence of small hive beetles.

April 16 – New hive #2 with split from #1, B. Weaver queen.

May 7 – Split this hive, left B. Weaver queen in parent.   Split is #14, with a Purvis queen, moved to Mark A

Labor Day – Pulled two partially filled supers, harvested 67 pounds of honey.

November – Seems to be doing ok, but slightly paranoid. Gave 5# dry sugar, MCM.

Dec. 14 – dry sugar gone, added #5 sugar.

2010

Jan. 26 - Seems to be some sealed honey, but cluster appears to be spread ca. ½ thick over the 5 center frames. 1/3 of the sugar is left. Check in 2 weeks?

Feb. 11 - A slight amount of sugar left. Added 5#.

Mar. 15 -  Amazing!!!  The granulate sugar was gone, and in the super I put on to feed the sugar, they were building comb!  Started from the top of frame 5 below, building upward, had gotten about 6 inches, then it fell over, forming an arch.  They had started some comb from the inner cover, about 2 inches wide, and 3 inches long.  I removed the comb, and checked the super below.  some eggs, larvae, very little brood.  Some sealed honey and pollen.  The bees were very upset, so I did not go further down.  It is 53, heavy overcast, light cool breeze.  I had to check them today as I’m leaving town tomorrow.  So I took a deep of foundationless frames, added a frame of comb and honey from the dead-0ut, and installed it on top.  I put a syrup feeder on top, and tonight will feed 2 gallons of syrup.  If they want to build comb, I’ll encourage them.  This is my strongest hive by far.

HIVE #3 – MnHygenic

2008

April 15 – In the “Home” yard, hived a 3# package of MnHygenic in 10-frame, deep equipment. Fed and supered as needed. Honey in the supers July 1 was all I got.

Labor Day - Pulled 2 partially filled supers, harvested 30 pounds of dark honey.

April – Apparently lost a swarm.  Didn’t have equipment to add, new queens didn’t arrive, apparently I didn’t order them soon enough.

May 7 - Requeened with a Purvis queen, and split – First split became hive #4, Purvis Queen.  Second split became hive #5, Purvis queen.
 

Aug. 1 - split again, making hive #11, Purvis queen. Worked to build it up for winter.

 Nov. - Has honey stores, but fed 5# dry sugar, just in case.

  Dec. 14 – Still most of the sugar there, added none.

 2010

 Jan. 26 – Still had about 2# dry sugar.

Mar. 11 – Queen active in the bottom box, 3 frames brood.  Did not reverse.  FEED!

Mar. 14 - Added hive top feeder, 2 gallons of syrup.

   HIVE #4 – Purvis queen

 2009

 May 7 – Split made from #3. Fed heavily, built up well.

 Labor Day – Pulled 2 partial supers, harvested 29 pounds of light honey.

 November – Fed 5# dry sugar.

 Dec. 14 – Most of the sugar still there, added none.

 2010

 Jan. 26 – Still had 5# sugar, sealed honey visible in top super.

Mar. 11 -  Dead.    Post-mortem indicates the hive starved and chilled… or chilled and starved.  Robbing took most of the honey, as idicated by torn cappings and ragged cell edges.  In the top brood box there was a small cluster of bees in the cells of frames 4 & 5, maybe 100 total.. many head down in cells, rest on top, dead.    In the bottom box, frames 1,2,3 were empty, with very little pollen.  The outside of frame 4 had a 5″ cluster, that apparently found food, was separated from  main cluster, chilled and died.  Inside of frame 4 was empty.  Outside of frame 5 was empty except for about 40 sealed brood, scattered, dead.  Inside of frame 5, and freames 6 and 7 held the main cluster, about softball sized.  As I scraped the dead bees I found the queen.  No deformed wings to be seen.   Conclusion, they starved.  Cold apparently prevented them from moving upstairs into honey stores. 

 HIVE #5 – Purvis Queen

 2009

 May 7 – Made split from #3, with a Purvis queen.  Fed heavily, and built up all season. Two story, deep, 10-frame equip.

 Aug. 1 – Split this colony, making hive #13. Left original queen in #5.  #13 has Purvis queen.

 Nov. – Fed 5# dry sugar.

 Dec. 14 – added 5# dry sugar.

 2010

 Jan. 26 – Still had 5# dry sugar, bees feeding on it.

Mar. 11 – 3 frames of brood in top brood box, pollen coming in.  Reverse next time?

 HIVE #6 – Purvis queen

 2009

 May 7 – Split made from #1, Purvis queen installed. Fed heavily, moved to Jan’s.

 Aug. 1 – Split. Host #6 stayed at Jan’s.   New hive #10 given Purvis queen, moved to Mark A

 Nov. – Fed 5# dry sugar.

 Dec. 14 – Fed ca. 7# dry sugar, previous gone.

 2010

 Jan. 26 – Fed 5# sugar. Although the cluster was low in the colony, and there seemed to be sealed honey in the top super… But they’re taking the sugar. And not dumping it outside.

Mar. 11 – Top box is medium, with brood and queen.  Middle box is medium, with brood.  Bottom box is deep, empty.  I put the middle box with brood on the bottom, so as the brood hatched out, it would be empty.  The top box with the queen and brood I put in the middle, and the empty deep I put on top.  That way the queen would move up, and I could add another deep, and remove the medium boxes after the brood hatched out.  Need to FEED.  Removed bottom plywood insert, cleaned bottom.

Mar. 14 -  Added hive top feeder, 2 gallons syrup.

HIVE #7 – Russian

2009

April 4 - Saturday, picked up 2 nucs of Russians. 5 frame nuc from Jester Bee Co, West Ridge, Ark. Installed at Jan’s, fed heavily.

Labor Day - Had built up to 2 deep brood boxes, 2 shallow supers.  Pulled partially filled super of honey, extracted 26 pounds of dark honey.

November – Weak fall flow, fed 5# dry sugar.

Dec. 14 - Fed 10# dry sugar.

2010

Jan. 26 – Still had 3# sugar.  Cluster seemed to be low in the hive.

Mar. 11 - Wonderful brood patter, strong.  Reversed.  Feed!  Removed bottom plywood closure, cleaned bottom board.

Mar. 14 -  Added hive top feeder, 2 gallons syrup.

HIVE #8 – Russian

2009

April 4 – Other Russian nuc from Jester Bee Co. Installed as first, on 10-frame deeps.  Fed heavily.

Labor Day -  Developed well.  2 deeps, one shallow.  did not pull honey.

Nov. – Fed 5# dry sugar.

Dec. 14 - Fed ca. 9# dry sugar, had maybe one cup from previous feed.

2010

Jan. 26 – Cluster seemed to be high in the brood box. They got real active when I popped the lid to take a look. Got stung on the ankle.

Mar. 11 - Wonderful brood patter.  Reversed.  Feed!  removed bottom plywood closure, cleaned bottom board.  There was a lot of granulate sugar on the bottom plywood.  There was a lot of granulated sugar on the plywood.

Mar. 14 – added hive top feeder, 2 gallons syrup.

HIVE #9 – Purvis queen

2009

Aug. 1 – Split from #1 at home, installed Purvis queen, moved to Mark A.

Nov. – Fed 5# dry sugar.

Dec. 14 – ca. 1# left, gave another 5#.

2010

Jan. 26 - Apparently ok, bees active, but did not see cluster. Did not add any sugar.

Mar. 11 - Didn’t reverse, don’t need to feed.  Some brood in top box, check next time.

HIVE #10 -  Purvis queen

2009

Aug. 1 - Split from #6 hive, installed Purvis queen.

Nov. - Fed 5# dry sugar

Dec. 14 – 1/3 sugar gone, gave 5# more.

Jan.  26 – ca 3# sugar left, bees doing ok.

Mar. 11 – Queen in top box, reverse next time, no feed necessary.

HIVE #11  – Purvis queen

Nov.  – Fed 5# dry sugar.

Dec. 14 – Almost all gone, gave 5# more.

2010

Jan. 26 – Ok, nothing needed, still had ca. 2.5 # dry sugar.

Mar. 11 - Reversed, doing great!  Feed.

Mar. 14 -  added hive top feeder, 2 gallons of syrup.

HIVE #12 -  Purvis queen

Aug. 1 -Split from #4, installed Purvis queen

Nov. - Fed 5# dry sugar.

Dec. 14 – Almost all gone, gave 5# more dry sugar.

2010

Jan. 26 -  Nothing needed…still had 5# sugar.

Mar. 11 – Do not need to feed, nor reverse.  Cluster with brood in bottom box, brood middle 4 frames.  Honey and pollen above.

HIVE #13 -  Purvis queen

HIVE #14 – Purvis queen

Aug. 1 - Split made from #2, installed new Purvis queen.

Nov. - Fed 5# dry sugar.

Dec. 14 - half gone, added almost 5# dry sugar.

Jan. 26 - Almost 5# sugar left, bees feeding on it.

2010

Jan. 26 – Almost 5# sugar left, bees feeding on it.

Mar. 11 - Reversed.  Brood and eggs in the center three frames in top box.  Honey and pollen coming in, some granulated sugar left.

If Einstein were alive today, he might point to the mysterious colony collapse disorder (or CCD) that has beekeepers and farmers concerned in North American and Europe. CCD is a phenomenon in which the worker bees of a beehive suddenly vanish. While “colony collapse disorder” as a term is relatively new, and the abrupt disappearance of worker bees from a hive is not necessarily a new occurrence, the new terminology was first attributed to a significant rise in disappearances of Western honey bee colonies in North America in late 2006.

One of the greatest concerns stemming from CCD is the problem of pollination. Most people do not realize that bees are responsible for the pollination of some of the most basic crops, including (but not limited to): avocados, apples, cherries, cucumber, melons, prunes, pears, plums, pumpkin, squash, and kiwi. Bees also pollinate many ornamental plants, as well as dozens of vegetable and flower seeds.

Many beekeepers and key influencers in the bee community (as well as the news media and other opinion-holders across the globe) have weighed in on the CCD phenomenon. While there is still a lot of speculation and the lack of a decisive explanation, some legitimate theories have taken root.

What are the current theories that explain colony collapse disorder?

Most people agree that CCD likely stems from one or more of these contributing factors: drought, mite control, parasites, pesticides, chemical buildup, feed/nutrition, and decreased bee pasture. Most of these factors have played roles in bee culture for years, but the growing number of disappearing bees has beekeepers and bee experts looking more closely at how the factors might be combined to cause CCD.

Where are the bees going?

The keyword here is disappearance. Most cases of CCD report a disappearance of between 20-80%, with no apparent clue as to where the bees have gone. What is generally accepted is that few the bees that are left in the hive are all young bees, and often queens are left as well.

Are the bees dying off?

Die-off is part of beekeeping. Dead bees are usually found in the spring with “normal” winter losses generally fluctuating within the 15-25% range. The key when it comes to CCD is distinguishing whether or not hives have experienced CCD or non-CCD losses. CCD criteria are that 50% or more of the dead colonies are found with few-to-no dead bees in the hive or apiary.

How many bees have gone missing each year?

Since CCD reared its head in late 2006, the number of bees lost to CCD in America has risen each year. In the winter of 2008, a USDA survey showed that 36% of America’s 2.4 million hives were lost to CCD-that’s well over 850,000 hives total. This survey covered almost 20% of American’s 1,500 commercial beekeepers and suggested an increase of 11% over 2007’s losses, and 40% over 2006’s losses.

What’s next for the bees?

Bee experts are working hard to discover the real cause of CCD, which as yet remains unknown. Services for North American beekeepers have been made available for rapid virus screening (Bee Alert working with BVS, Inc. and the U.S. Army’s Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center (ECBC)), as well as screening for all bee, insect, and plant pathogens (Bee Alert with ECBC). Because the cause has remained elusive, beekeepers are encouraged to maintain close care, documentation, and communication while managing the health of their bees.