My Colony Died

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Originally Posted by beemandan

Rather than reinventing the wheel...you may want to read this recent thread.
http://www.beesource.com/forums/show...hlight=abscond
There have been a number of similar posts since. This is the time of year when varroa pressure reaches its peak...and the previously strongest colonies....disappear.

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Exactly- I too learned from MP what PMS looks like. In fact you have some great photos of it- the pin holes in the brood- and many of them. The bees, too weak to emerge. I would love to be able to use some of these photos in our class. They are great teaching tools.

You said you checked the bees earlier in the Fall and everything looked fine. Did you do any mite assessment? Lots of bees does not equal healthy bees- and I too have seen, if they are infested with mites- the crash happens quickly.

I see mites in the pics. Looks like PMS to me.

Not one single varroa mite anywhere in my hive that died.

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Originally Posted by Mr.Beeman

Not one single varroa mite anywhere.

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if there were mites, they would have jumped on the robbing bees, and hitchhiked home with them.

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Originally Posted by Mr.Beeman

Not one single varroa mite anywhere in my hive that died.

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Then yours was the only colony of bees in North America without any.

nice lookin' website there dan.

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Originally Posted by squarepeg

nice lookin' website there dan.

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Thanks SP. It is much simpler than its predecessor. The old one had an online store, blog and lots of glitz. I decided it was time to simplify my life somewhat.