sick wild honeybees

[gera]

Hello all, we have had honeybees living in our chimney now for about 5 years and we like having them here, so far they have not been a nuisance, they haven't swarmed for 5 years, not so far anyway.

Lately they have appeared aggitated and many bees(thirty to forty at a time) are scattered and crawing on the street below, in a lethargic and dying state. There seems to be a white bloom over there bodies, and some have missing wings.

any ideas what might be happening and what could be wrong and if there is a way to rectify it.

There is a lot of honey up there??

Regards

[Michael Bush]

>Hello all, we have had honeybees living in our chimney now for about 5 years and we like having them here, so far they have not been a nuisance, they haven't swarmed for 5 years, not so far anyway.

That you've noticed. Swarms happen quickly sometimes and are easy to miss.

>Lately they have appeared aggitated and many bees(thirty to forty at a time) are scattered and crawing on the street below, in a lethargic and dying state.

Maybe trachael mites or some kind of virus from the Varroa mites.

>There seems to be a white bloom over there bodies, and some have missing wings.

The "white bloom" is probably young, newly emerged bees which are very fuzzy and lighter looking. The missing wings is probably DWV (Deformed Wing Virus). Probably from the Varroa mites.

Not a lot you can do for bees you can't get at. They will probably die off, some other hive will probably rob it out and eventually another swarm will probably move in.

There may be a little honey or a lot of honey. There is no telling. Once the bees are gone, if other bees don't find it and rob it out, you may find out on a hot day when the wax melts. :(


any ideas what might be happening and what could be wrong and if there is a way to rectify it.

There is a lot of honey up there??