Missing Queens

August 2005

Early in July both of my strong April swarms became Queenless, at the same time. Although both colonies raised new Queens immediately, this process loses a month or more of peak production time, and as they were unable to take advantage of the July crop there was been very little honey from these hives.

My concern was that there seemed no obvious reason for losing the Queens in the first place. Having accommodated both swarms in adequate space I had decided not to open them up too often whilst they got established, and although it's possible I missed the signs that they were preparing to swarm, I've not yet heard of two new swarms, simultaneously re-swarming

The Roger Patterson link below is to a fascinating article, on the BBKA web site, regarding his speculations issues which may be contributory to queens poor mating and laying.

Since the release of this information Roger has heard from Beekeepers in the UK and overseas confirms similar problems with queens. The latest input is the possible impact of pesticides on queen rearing and mating, by Graham White aka 'Border Beeman'. This concerns a generic product called IMIDACLOPRID.
Please click to read Roger Patterson's article and updates.

11 March 2007 - Colony Collapse Disorder in America. Mr Hackenberg has lost 2000 out of 3000 bee colonies, creating issues for crops reliant on his pollination services and 'the highest strata of the political class in Washington'. Link to BBC report on American Beekeepers' bee colony disappearance. Research in the USA has implicated this to Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus.

Time to understand more about my large and beautiful Golden Queens. I will keep in touch with the experienced Beekeeper in the next village who recently found a caste (small mid-season swarm) with a Golden Queen, and has introduced this to an existing colony of his, killing off his traditionally favoured 'Buckfast' Queen. He re-stocks his colonies with new queens every 2 years and will assess the Golden Queen. I hope to hear that she 'makes the grade' as I would like to manage re-Queening from my own stock.

17 April 2007 - Have 50% to 75% of honey bees died in London? Link to a BBC article and sound file interview with London Beekeeper Tony Smith.

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