Broodless

[Tonych224]

Whilst watching over the weeks for the queen reducing laying, there was minimal eggs and larvae and sealed brood.

As it was all going nicely I decided to leave them for a couple of weeks to the next full inspection but instead at the mid point of the 2 weeks I start with ApilLife Var as the start of the treatment. 7 days in to the treatment it's time for the full inspection.

To my horror there is absolutely no brood in any stage! is this normal ? I located the queen she is still there although her abdomen is looking rather much smaller than at the height of the summer, she is not far off the size of a worker.

I have not engaged in any feeding of syrup yet as they seem to have plenty of honey stores although not much pollen, the queen has 3-4 frames on which there is plenty of room for her to lay. I have taken the ApiLife off now as it might be a factor??? Inspection board proved a very low varroa count after the week.

14x12 and down to just the BB now, no supers.

I appreciate any advice.

 

[oliver90owner]

Check for nosema? Possibly just gone off-lay due to a change in the weather or treatment.

Try feeding them; if they refuse to take it and are not foraging def check as above.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I run 14 x 12 and have 4
Last year I used Apilife (as the previous year but on Nationals)
In two colonies the queens stopped laying, one for about two weeks and one entirely....never ever re-started and the colony dwindled away.
The other two never missed a beat; all Buckfast bees, all 2012 queens.
Of the two that did stop one was a poly and the other wood. It was the wooden one that dwindled away.
Have you checked for Nosema?
You never can tell.

 

[Tonych224]

Alas I do not have a microscope and my BKA don't do Nosema testing.. I think a feed with some Nosevit or Hive Alive ?? As a precaution.

Should this be a winter feed or a spring feed so they use it as if they store it she could run our of space ?

 

[drstitson]

why are you still inspecting regularly?

many queens stop laying on thymol treatment.

all you are doing is worrying yourself (and reducing effectiveness of the ALV treatment - hive should only be opened quickly to add next biscuit).

 

[oliver90owner]

IF the queen is nosemic, bye bye colony. That is all. Don't know and can't tell from my chair, here, which scenario is occurring, but just be warned. It does happen.

 

[susbees]

why are you still inspecting regularly?

many queens stop laying on thymol treatment.

...or without, due to genetics/weather changes etc. Colonies vary hugely at this time of year: we have some with several frames of sealed and some queens on holiday. No matter if things have looked good to date and there's a queen.

 

[beeno]

Hi Tonych,
I have just discovered that I have one like that. Stopped laying during Thymol. Have fed and hive now has 7 frames of stores. Seemed very happy when inspected and small cup sized empty areas in three frames - so here's hoping. They don't exactly need more numbers at the moment just winter bees, so I am hoping that they are timing it for the main Ivy flow in my area. I am inspecting again before end of this warm spell as I can unite with spare nuc. Hopefully just a brood break for both of us or they could have done a Ted Hooper stopped laying by the end of August!

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Alas I do not have a microscope and my BKA don't do Nosema testing.. I think a feed with some Nosevit or Hive Alive ?? As a precaution.

Should this be a winter feed or a spring feed so they use it as if they store it she could run our of space ?

Has anyone demonstrated how to draw out a bees alimentary canal for a crude visual Nosema check?