Million dollar ?

[high rate of speed]

Is it the crud,drones mating with aussies,new strain of chalkbrood,or fungicides,spore counts are low???

[jean-marc]

I'm not really sure what you are asking.

Jean-Marc

[high rate of speed]

Chalk brood is turning up everywhere in Ca.No one seems to have the answer to why.Is it fungicides,our drones mating with aussie packages or what.

[jean-marc]

I would think that it's something new to the area. Aussie drones is a good bet. I've used a few pacs in the past and 2 of the 3 suppliers overthere had huge problems with chalkbrood. Colonies could die from it. I guess it was a swarm control method. About 30% of the brood could die from it. Mind you they've been around a few years now, I would have expected it sooner, unless you used some last year.

Jean-Marc

[jim lyon]

I have seen a bit more chalk brood than I normally do this year in our California bees though it was far from crippling, have never used any Aussie stock. It seems to have gone away fairly quickly after re-queening in Texas followed by nice build-up conditions.

[wildbranch2007]

I had not had a problem with chalkbrood for 15 years, moved to N.Y. with the same bees and the second year started with chalkbrood ( also had brought in some new queens) last year was getting rediculious. but also had other symptons. Treated all hives spring and fall with fumidil as I was sure I the queens I had bought had n.c., the only hives I have a chalkbrood problem with(two) didn't take there med's. Not scientific, no way to prove, but will see how it goes and adjust. Any other N.Y. beeks seeing chalkbrood?

mike

[peggjam]

I generally get a case or two every year...mostly if the spring is wet and cold. I replace the queens in these hives and they clear up good...

[Bob Nelson]

Many of the bees we got back from Cali 3 years ago were restocks of packages from across the pond. (That's another story)

We had a huge chalkbrood problem with those bees. After 2 years of wintering (subsequent high losses) and grafting from relatively chalk free survivors it is mostly gone.

This experience reiterates what I have learned over and over........utilizing mostly your own stock keeps you in the best bees. Same experience in TX over the years.

Bob Nelson