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COLONY DEATH <br /> According to the annual beekeeper loss survey Was the cluster size covering 8-12 frames in October- <br /> conducted by the non-profit the Bee Informed November? When you discovered the colony death, <br /> Partnership (research.beeinformed.org/loss-map/), were the bees decomposing or did it look like a recent <br /> hobby beekeepers in Minnesota have on average a death? Were the dead bees clustered, piled on the <br /> 60% winter mortality each year. Losses can occur bottom board, or missing altogether? <br /> over the summer, but are more likely to happen during <br /> winter. In the summer, a colony may be able to raise Write down notes and take pictures. The longer you <br /> enough new bees to replace sick and dying bees. keep bees the more you can learn from them. Coming <br /> Little brood is reared over winter, so the population back to your old notes can help you learn at a later <br /> dwindles when individual bees die. Winter is a true date even if at the time of your note taking you were <br /> test of whether bees are healthy or not. You can mystified. <br /> increase the likelihood that your bees will survive by <br /> following the five principles outlined at the start of this If the colony is dead, take the equipment to your shop <br /> chapter. or garage to clean it out, or close all holes to prevent <br /> robbing by other colonies and to keep mice out until <br /> It is discouraging when a colony dies. You are not weather permits you to clean the equipment outside. <br /> alone.Although sad, use the loss as an opportunity to The boxes, frame and combs with remaining honey <br /> learn. Try to diagnose why the colony died by thinking are fine to give to a different colony (do not extract or <br /> through what the colony looked like throughout the eat honey from a deadout). Cull out old combs and <br /> year, before it died, and when you found it dead. Was replace them with new ones. The only hard-and-fast <br /> there any food left in the colony? Springtime weather rule is: never reuse equipment from a colony that died <br /> el is unpredictable: you cannot control if, during a cold from American foulbrood disease (see the Honey Bee <br /> snap, the bees will be able to reach honey frames Diseases and Pests manual, Z.umn.edu/BeeManual). <br /> located away from the cluster and they may starve AFB is relatively rare but highly contagious to other <br /> with food present. Did the brood look sick during bee colonies. In general, tossing out any comb that <br /> summer or fall? Were there issues with the queen at has signs of brood disease is best for the long-term <br /> any time? Did you sample and manage for mites? health of your new bees. If you aren't certain whether <br /> to keep or toss used comb, err on the side of tossing it. <br /> Did you sample your colony after mite management <br /> to determine if your mite management was effective? <br /> The "Ick" Test <br /> 3 <br /> 1n1111,/ft <br /> If you are trying to decide whether to reuse or replace old combs, we recommend <br /> you use the "ick" test. If you are looking at a comb and think, "ick", toss it. Moldy <br /> 1� frames are okay to reuse since the bees are good at cleaning up mold. Any <br /> comb with signs of brood disease should be tossed. Reducing the exposure to <br /> pathogens in the colony is worth the extra cost of replacing the frames. Frames <br /> with chilled, dead brood can be reused because it is not infectious. If in doubt, <br /> take a photo or show it to an experienced beekeeper for advice. If you think you <br /> Biology have diseased comb on your hands, double bag the frames and put them in a <br /> Box dumpster. Replace them with brand new frames and foundation. <br /> • <br /> Beekeeping in Northern Climates 53 <br />