Bees, They're Dropping Like Flies...

[sandyRoe]

I noticed a lot of dead bees as I walked the dog this morning. Are these deaths caused by the virus or are there other reasons?

[Clanad]

What you may be seeing are drones leaving the hives on a daily basis... going to the local congregtion area waiting for the Virgin Queen to give off a pheremone signaling an unsofar never observed mating sequence, which may take several weeks. They return, if they live, each evening... in a healthy hive (at least mine here in the U.S.) there are probably around 60,000 bees and out of that maybe 100 - 500 drones. They breed with the queen about this time of year and since they're useless for anything else (like my brother-in-law) they are chased off and die soon afterwards.

Additionally, I see in certain parts of the U.K. the temperatures have been very hot this year. That leads to bees demise as well. So much so that if it continues, the bee-keeper will need to feed the hive sugar water this winter since they will not have had the opportunity or population to store up the nearly 60 pounds of honey needed for over-winter survival.

Added to that is the fact that the worker bees only live around 6 weeks or so since they literally work themselves to death (unike said brother-in-law)...

There's no evidence, by the way, that older bees are 'chased' out of the hive...

[Svejk]

Do I detect the merest hint of animosity towards the BIL, clanad. Do all beekeepers leave 60lb of honey in a hive for winter survival. Why don't they just get new bees every year?

[Clanad]

Forgive my Colonist ignorance, Svjek... but I don't have a clue about what a BIL is.

One can either leave 60 pounds or so of honey for a good healthy hive or you can resign yourself to feeding the hive all winter.

Besides, a small pack of honey bees that includes a queen is around $80 here in the U.S. and won't contain enough bees to establish a new hive for the summer. Entirely self-defeating...

[jno]

a BIL is, as you mentioned, a brother in law, and in no way to be confused with an MILF.

[Clanad]

Aha, thanks jno... BIL is definitely a source of amusement! Animosity? Well, one has to decide what battles he willing to fight, no?

[jno]

the intra-family ones are the least rewarding, I find, as the foe remains related to you unless actually buried under the patio.

[Clanad]

Think nothing of the newly laid tiles on our backyard patio, jno...