Hi Mike, The queens were Italians all 3 from Georgia
my hives were treated in the spring of 2009 and fall 2009 with Apiguard & treated for Nosema with Fumidil B. I treated all hives while the temps were still in the low 60's. 2 Hives were new hives in April of 2009 bears attacked and I added more bees to build up because 3/4 were eaten/dead from bears. The original hive would have been 3yrs next week. Mite counts were very low and alomost none on the 2 new hives. there were no signs of wing diseases.
Thanks for everyones input
One person's low count is another person's walking dead and damaged brood...what were your numbers?
Did you apiguard work? Spring #'s as well as summer #'s and pre and post treatment numbers in the fall...
Here, spring is 1% and in the fall pre sept 15 <5% and post sept 15th <10% for winter survival...That said, that is healthy bees with no pressure from nosema, no pressure from diseases.
Walking dead, could be either mites, could be a virus, could be nosema cerana infection which does not always show dysentry.
Sorry about the bear, that could have added presure, however if they were attacked in April, you should have known by August 15th if the # of young bees and brood were enough to make a good cluster.