Unscientific Data!

Photo: Z. Huang

Today, Sunday January 13 2013 I decided to get my bag of bees from the freezer.... So far no one at home had made any comments regarding the little cadavers in a Ziploc bag "hidden" between the ice cream and the waffles!

Here are some facts:

I collected from the frozen, snowy ground right in front of hive #1 in Chanhassen some dead female honeybees.

Total # Bees : 123 

Total # Mites : 2

Total #  Bees with Deformed Wings: 3

I then chose 10 bees randomly, and looked at their stomach and intestine. All but one were brown, yellowish (normal) and one was opaque and whitish. This could suggest Nosema. However, as I said before there were no streaks on the front of the hive. Conclusion: unlikely Nosema

The fact that I found 2 mites on 2 randomly chosen bees out of 123 collected, can only indicate a low count of Varroa mites.  However 300 bees is the suggested minimum to really tell the mite infestation in a colony. Conclusion: Probably a normal to low level of mites

I also found 3 bees/123 with deformed wings. As mentioned previously my sample is small, and trying to read anything would only be speculation. Conclusion: Probably some level of virus

Although this was fun to do! It is unscientific... and since it is about 4F (-15C) outside and that Spring is still just a dream at this moment. There is nothing I can do for the honeybees now. We all have to wait until better sunny, warm days. Hopefully all hives are wintering well, time will tell.

10-sample bees

Bee guts: the second to last from L to R (with arrow) maybe sign of  Nosema

Total sample:123 bees

Happy New Year 2013!

 Photos:Liz Vogel

Colonies in Chanhassen Dec.31 2012

The colonies were or seem to be fine when we put them to "rest". We were gone to Senegal for 12 days to visit Julie and her village as she continues her service in the Peace Corps. As I understand Minnesota was very cold during that period, and snowed only a little. 

While Liz was out...the last day of December 2012...she noticed "a lot of bees" dead in the snow in front of one hive. This phenomenon can happen, when the temperatures are a bit warmer and the bees decide to take a cleansing flight (to defecate), and then it gets a bit cooler and can't fly back home.

It could also be that some bees were sick, and got out by themselves to "save" the rest of the colony. 

Bees dead in snow, in front of hive

Last week, I was curious about the dead bees and therefore I stopped by the Chanhassen apiary, and collected few bees. They are now in my freezer! I will dissect them this weekend and see what's going on.

   When I was collecting I saw a mite on one bee. However there is no sign of dysentery (no brown streaks) on the front of the hive. Interesting! I will keep you posted on the results.  

Clean upper entrance