Any neonics close to you?
+1, I don't have the problem, but one of my club members does, and a couple of long time beeks were thinking Varroa as well.Crawlers are a non-specific sign of hive parasites. Summer Nosema (the imported cernua strain), tracheal mites, and a host of virus transmitted by Varroa will exhibit crawlers. I observe that Oxalic vapor treatment often resolves crawlers in just days. I do not have an explanation why a treatment whose target is the reproductive stage of the Varroa also resolves DWV and non-specific crawlers, but the impact is incontestable.
I was having someone else prepare the syrup for me and didn't provide them any guidance on how to make it because I didn't understand how dangerous it could possibly be to the bees. I pulled off the syrup for now since both hives seemed to have enough honey for now. I may put the feeders back on after watching them for a few days.I'm new also but I was told to boil the water, take it off the heat and then add the sugar. I heard that boiling the sugar is not good for the bees. Like I said I'm new at this too so if someone else could verify this info that would be great. Monica
Thanks - I understand your position. These are new hives I'm trying to get established and felt they needed a little extra help. I haven't taken any honey from them.I have never felt that sugar water was good for bees, properly prepared or not. I don't feed my bees. I am very careful about how much honey I take from them, it's best leave them plenty to live on.
Thanks for the input on this. I've tried removing the syrup altogether for now since it seemed like they had plenty of stores. I remember reading not to scorch the syrup but I obviously did not understand how serious of a problem simply boiling the syrup is. Hopefully this isn't a mistake I can't recover from.Boiling causes two issues carmelizes sugars and Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a neurotoxin formed when sugars are heated. "HMF is practically absent in fresh food, but it is naturally generated in sugar-containing food during heat-treatments like drying or cooking. HMF is toxic to bees."
Thanks for replying. The bees aren't drones - they're workers.Are the bees crawling around on the ground drones? I see them in front of my hives this time of year when the workers kick them out so they don't have to feed them.
I thought HMF was only a concern with high-fructose corn syrup.Boiling causes two issues carmelizes sugars and Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a neurotoxin formed when sugars are heated. "HMF is practically absent in fresh food, but it is naturally generated in sugar-containing food during heat-treatments like drying or cooking. HMF is toxic to bees."