frostygoat
05-06-2009, 10:47 AM
Background: Colony started from package 04/04/09. Egg laying commenced immediately, nurse bees started appearing about a week or so ago.
I'm worried because I noticed that perhaps 100 newly emerged bees have been discarded by the workers in the last couple of days. I can tell they're new because the wings are perfect and the hairs are still matted down.
These bees are still alive when the workers pull them out and dump them, although they are very weak. They have strange appearance- sort of creamy colored and perhaps somewhat malformed being smaller than other workers.
It has been cold at night and rainy for a few days, I thought perhaps these girls got chilled. There has been some burr comb building between frames that I accidentally disturbed last time I opened it up. Perhaps I inadvertently compressed cells with brood and caused this myself. The comb is very soft.
I looked for Varroa but didn't see any on them.
Thanks for ideas.
I'm worried because I noticed that perhaps 100 newly emerged bees have been discarded by the workers in the last couple of days. I can tell they're new because the wings are perfect and the hairs are still matted down.
These bees are still alive when the workers pull them out and dump them, although they are very weak. They have strange appearance- sort of creamy colored and perhaps somewhat malformed being smaller than other workers.
It has been cold at night and rainy for a few days, I thought perhaps these girls got chilled. There has been some burr comb building between frames that I accidentally disturbed last time I opened it up. Perhaps I inadvertently compressed cells with brood and caused this myself. The comb is very soft.
I looked for Varroa but didn't see any on them.
Thanks for ideas.