Problems and solutions.

[beenatural101]

The biggest difficulties that our honey bees are facing can be linked directly to us. Varroa and tracheal mites, both equally devastating for different reasons, we had a hand in their introduction. But Nature will take care of that as always, the weak will die and the strong live to be successful we have many survivor bee projects going on right now. I want bees from them all. lol. That will eventually right itself. However the bigger problem, the ones everyone cries "mystery" over is no real mystery at all. Residues of insecticides such as fipronil and neonicotonoids as well as many others, not to say herbicides and fungicides galore, are brought in by the unsuspecting girls themselves. This should kill them rather quickly but research shows beeswax absorbs toxins like a sponge. That is why I only take honey from new wax, and cull my wax after 2 years 3 at the most, I need more bees, and wax is needed here because the flow is so massive they will fill every open cell with nectar within a week no matter how much room they have. Foundationless is the way to go I am doing this as seasons permit. It will cut my honey production, but not really, I don't take much from them anyway. i am just making more bees.

[beenatural101]

Of course we all have to deal with mites, dowda with powdered sugar helps that, and some bees are showing now that they can handle them ok.
Lets talk about other pests, like ants. Bees normally fan their wings and blow ants away, really, or maul em or sting em, but usually a good gust o wind takes care of em. But if u have to many ants yer bees could get pissed and leave, or attack the hell out of you. so a good solution in cinnamon. Bees dont mind it ants hate it.