Seems like most of us just have to see it for ourselves at least one time. Just hard to imagine how quickly a thriving colony can go down to mites. The ones that believe their own eyes, and are willing to put in the hard work, seem to make good beekeepers. The ones who seem determined to blame anything and everything else (small hive beetles, wax moths, the weather, pesticides, etc.) are the ones that don't make it in this hobby very long.Had 10 hives got lazy and did not treat for mites the next spring I had three hives one average and two about dead. Made some splits up and treated for mites everything looks great won't make that mistake again . mites will take your hives out.
