Absconded

[MickBBKA]

Found my 3rd absconded colony since September today. Similar pattern to others, none or very little brood, lots of stores, none or very little sign of varroa, no dead bees in hive, was a good strong colony. One of our neighbouring associations has recently posted a question to others about this subject having many members losing colonies the same way for no apparent reason. I wonder what is going on. I have never lost more than 1 like this in a year and probably only 2 or 3 in 12 years

[AdamD]

That's an alarming situation. Varroa is usually described as the culprit; I guess your stocks had been treated?

[MickBBKA]

Yes, all treated in September and looked fine 2 weeks ago. No sign of varroasis. Varroa boards clean except for cappings wax. No obvious sign why they have gone. Seems strange that its happened to several others in the region.

[JoJo36]

You don't think somebody around is feeding syrup to entice colonies to leave and set up home elsewhere, in a way bee napping to obtain bees in the cheap??!!

[MickBBKA]

You don't think somebody around is feeding syrup to entice colonies to leave and set up home elsewhere, in a way bee napping to obtain bees in the cheap??!!

No, we are talking on a regional basis not local.

[JoJo36]

Hmmm, realistically they could "be mobile" and move the feeders say on a trailer to different locations whilst retrieving other peoples' colonies??!! Maybe I've watched too many dramas lately!!