11 April 2008 ~ 21 Comments

Queenbees

I hoped to post today about my beautiful new queenbees. I would tell you about how fat they are and how happy. I would instruct you on the markings on her back (red for 2008). You would be fascinated and leave me nice bee positive comments.

Not today.

My queen supplier called in tears on Wednesday. She went to her queen-bank and found that all 50 of her queens were dead. 50. Dead for no apparent reason.

Sadly the bad news doesn’t stop there. Because she doesn’t have queens, I have to figure out what to do with my hives for the next 3 weeks until she does. Because I had prepared to received the queens, it’s likely that I will loose my hives or diminish them significantly.

And that’s true for every person who was waiting for a queen.

It’s a brave new world folks. I’ll let you know what happens.

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21 Responses to “Queenbees”

  1. Christy 11 April 2008 at 9:20 am Permalink

    Oh no! How does something like that happen? I’m sorry. =o/ I’ll send out good bee vibes.

  2. Vixen 11 April 2008 at 9:45 am Permalink

    Oh that is just devastating. How horrific for her, you and everyone who was waiting for queens. I hope and pray you don’t lose your hives. Sending positive queen bee thoughts all over the states!

  3. Claudia 11 April 2008 at 10:33 am Permalink

    Oh no!! That is terrible news. I’m so sorry….

  4. Janet 11 April 2008 at 10:38 am Permalink

    I am so sorry about the queen bees…

  5. rileyberry 11 April 2008 at 11:52 am Permalink

    That is horrible news! Just awful. I’m really, really sorry.

  6. Joy @ Joy Of Desserts 11 April 2008 at 1:10 pm Permalink

    Oh, no! How terrible. I’m so sorry to hear that. Bees are so precious. I hope you’ll somehow find new queens — fast!

  7. Nap Warden 11 April 2008 at 2:14 pm Permalink

    Oh no! Claudia, sorry about the queens:(

  8. Open Grove Claudia 11 April 2008 at 3:38 pm Permalink

    Christy – Who knows? It might be CCD or a chemical or…. She had no idea – it’s never happened to her – ever. Scary. Thanks for caring!

    Vixen – Yes, she was very upset – it’s a horrible thing, really horrible. Thanks for caring!

    Claudia – Yes it is terrible news. Thanks for caring!

    Rileyberry – Me too. Thanks for caring!

    Joy – Bees are precious – thanks. A solution will present itself, I’m sure. Thanks for caring!

    Nap Warden – Me too! Thanks for caring!

  9. cajunvegan 11 April 2008 at 5:47 pm Permalink

    I had a whole ‘nuther week of Queen Bees and Wannabees.

    They are so necessary in your world and so pathetic in mine.

  10. awareness 11 April 2008 at 7:56 pm Permalink

    Last summer there was a bee demise devastation, though I don’t know if it was just around here or not. They had no idea what caused it, and are worried that perhaps the bee industry may never recover.

  11. heart in san francisco 11 April 2008 at 7:57 pm Permalink

    I’m so sorry, for you and for the Queen bees.

    How scary that nobody knows what is causing this. I hope bees are not the vanguard of doom for all of us.

    Sending honey-colored healing thoughts.

  12. Open Grove Claudia 11 April 2008 at 8:27 pm Permalink

    Cajun Vegan – I think I prefer my bees to yours.

    Awarness – It’s an international phenomena. It originally started in Europe. Very scary though.

    Heart in SF – I feel sorry for me too! ;) Thanks for your healing thoughts.

  13. Dr. John 12 April 2008 at 10:48 am Permalink

    Something seems to be killing bees across the entire country. Its scarey.

  14. Passion Diva Stephanie 12 April 2008 at 1:11 pm Permalink

    Claudia! I’m sorry to hear that the bees are in danger. I love bees, and I hope they will be able to make a great comeback! I will pray for them, and hopefully some will make it your way.
    Come on bees!

    hugs

  15. tommie 12 April 2008 at 6:59 pm Permalink

    Claudia-
    What happens to the other bees when they don’t have a queen? I am wondering if someone is losing a hive around here because we have see a large amount of bees on a daily basis. They seem to stay around the garden beds, so I am not too worried.

    Do you know of any other place that supplies queens?

  16. no nonsense girl 12 April 2008 at 7:49 pm Permalink

    I know of no place but will keep you in my prayers Claudia. :(

  17. TWM 13 April 2008 at 3:57 am Permalink

    Yeah man this they say is going to wreak havoc on pollination. Hope the entomologists get a handle on this one soon.

    Peace

    mark

  18. Open Grove Claudia 13 April 2008 at 10:58 am Permalink

    Dr. John – It’s actually an international phenomena. No one is really sure where or what is causing it.

    Passion Diva Stephanie – Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

    Tommie – There are a bunch of bee farms in your neck of the woods that’s probably why you see so many bees. But they have been hit hard too. Beekeeping is also a GI hobby. After fighting wars, what a few bees?

    No Nonsense Girl – Thanks for the prayers.

    TWM – I think it’s going to be beekeepers that sort it out, myself. We love our bees and, so are a bit more motivated to figure out what works.

  19. CEO 13 April 2008 at 7:28 pm Permalink

    OK, how do I learn to raise Queens?

  20. Slick 14 April 2008 at 1:37 am Permalink

    Bee raisin’ sounds like a lot of work, Claudia

    Hopefully your hives will endure this until you can rectify the problem with the queens.

  21. Open Grove Claudia 14 April 2008 at 7:48 am Permalink

    CEO – There’s actually a number of books on Queen raising. It’s a good business. We are trying to get survivor bees which mean no chemicals, no meds. It also means that this kind of thing will happen. sadly.

    Slick – It’s more worry than work – which is why I like it, of course. ;)