Where have all the bees gone?

As spring rolls along here, I am still not seeing any bees.  I am afraid that the wintering SHB, taking shelter in the clusters, did them in.  Everywhere I go and even the images on the television are void of bees.  This year I have only seen one honey bee outside.

What is everyone else seeing? As I drive the highways and look at the blooms on various plants, nothing, I'm not even seeing many bumble bees yet either. It's time to change the old ways and equipment.  They were good when things were in harmony, but now, I think if we beekeepers continue to do as we have have done in the past our future will not be pretty.

Once at the turn of the 1900 century, a great battle took place in the states.  Simply it was over fake or

adulterated honey and several bee diseases.  That battle was won.  However, have you checked your "honey" packets at KFC and Popeye's? You might find that you are supporting "honey syrup".

I for one don't read model T service manuals when I want to fix my 21st century car.  That's not to say that they should be discarded, only that they should be read with a basis in mind only. Why do we think that the techniques developed in the 1800's and early 1900's still apply?  The great founders of bee knowledge learned about bees  and past that knowledge forward. Diseases they knew, pests not so much. Mites and hornets were the talk of the day. The difference is that these pests were after adult bees. The threats of today attack from the egg on up.

One last observation. Last year I noticed in a cut-out I was doing that the hive located in a second floor building was under attack by SHBs. How common is this? How long would they have survived? Wild bees are being affected also and given the current information, I don't think they will survive.

Maybe it's time for the agricultural departments to focus on Symbiote farming techniques. Start with the melon farmers that leave food wastes for the SHB to eat, promote that one group must help the other to control these cross-pests.

I suggest that if your loses are more than 30% you must find out why.  For goodness sake, try something new, talk to other beekeepers and involve your self in your local chapters and clubs.  If you have never been to a bee meeting or conference, maybe it's time.

Winter 2011-2012 beehive loss survey

One way we as beekeepers can help other beekeepers is to share our experiences both good and bad.  Each year as a group we have winter losses of hives.  This information is tracked yearly and can be of many uses, but to have the results improve our craft we must participate in the collection of the data.

Recently, a more modern approach is available to collect this data.  Take a few minutes of your time and step up and help.  The annual winter survey is available here. 

Farmer deploys guard bees to deter would-be scrap thieves - msnNOW

Farmer deploys guard bees to deter would-be scrap thieves - msnNOW:

'via Blog this'

Beekeepers and Environmentalists Petition EPA to Stop Pesticide Linked to Bee Deaths - MarketWatch

Beekeepers and Environmentalists Petition EPA to Stop Pesticide Linked to Bee Deaths - MarketWatch:

'via Blog this'

Wintering bees in cellars

In the late 1800's and though the earlier 1900's it was a common practice in the US to winter bees in special bee houses or cellars.  This was over time abandoned due to various reasons.  Here is a classic pamphlet from the Unites States Department of Agriculture on the subject.  Moisture was a common problem in cellars.

A Packing case

During this same time frame it was common that beehives left outdoor received some form of outer weather protector.  Double wall hives, hive covers and wraps started to be used and of various designs.

Today, most beekeepers winter their bees outdoors.  There are various thoughts, designs, devices and treatments used depending on your location and local practice.