Spring visit to Warré hives 2009

All seven surviving Warrés were inspected on 1 April 2009 and together with W10 whose queen was found dying in front of that hive on 31 March 2009. All the survivors had pollen coming in. The quilts and top-bar cloths were dry on all hives. Some of the floors had evidence of moisture penetration, probably under the bottom rim of the lowest box. On one of these especially were many of the unidentified larvae first seen in summer 2008 (close-up below). A wax moth larva was seen on one floor. A surprising finding in one hive was a couple of compost worms (Eisenia fetida). The stands are 305 mm high, but compost worms are good climbers.

The hives were lifted with a Gatineau lift and it was unnecessary to light the smoker at any time. The bees seemed oblivious of the manipulation.

W10 Floor (entrance at top)	W11 Floor
W1 Some moisture penetration, rear left (viewed from entrance)	W2
W7	W6 Some dampness at rear right side.
W4 Much moisture penetration along right hand side.	W9
W6 Detail of floor round moisture penetration: cappings, pollen, one wax moth larva (just above centre), dead bees, unidentified desd larvae (bottom half of picture; one indicated with arrow). See close-up of unidentified larva below.
W4 Detail of floor round moisture penetration: cappings, pollen loads, dried pollen pulled out of cells, dead bees, unidentified dead larvae, two compost worms (Eisenia fetida).
W10 Box 1 Queen found dying in front of hive on 31 March 2009; very few bees present; evidence of robbing in progress; plenty of capped honey.	W10 Box 2 Note tendency of combs to cross to adjacent bars despite use of starter beading/strips.
W9 Box 3 and 2 viewed from underneath, supported by Gatineau lift.	Unidentified larva (8 mm) found in W4 & W6; first seen in June 2008 when they were alive. Locomotion: The larva extends its snout (left) and appears to drag its body along.