Hello everyone. A question I can answer, thanks. We live close to you
also, between Falmouth and Dry Ridge, KY. Our bees can fly up to 6 miles
one way, but I think you are further than that!

In the mid 80's American beekeepers discovered 2 mites that are killing the
bees.

One is a tracheal mite. This mite lives inside the bee, in their trachea.
Makes the bee weaker and weaker, till death. Menthol is the treatment used
to kill any tracheal mites. It is a packet of large menthol crystals that
is placed in the top of the hive, on a very warm day. The menthol
melts/evaporates and as it is heavier than air, goes down and permeates the
hive bodies. The bees breathe in the menthol vapors. The vapors kill the
mite.

Unfortunately, this menthol treatment works well. Beekeepers, like many
non-beekeepers, think that the tracheal mites have been overcome. NOT.
Kinda like taking your blood pressure medicine, "Oh, my blood pressure is OK
now, so I don't have to take my medicine anymore". So a lot of beekeepers
lost hives this past winter because they didn't treat in the fall for these
mites.

Beekeepers who raise and

The other mite is a varroa mite. This mite attaches to the back of the
thorax (neck part) of the bees. Sucks out the juices and causes the bee to
die. These mites reproduce in the cells with the baby bees. They eat the
baby's food and suck on the juices. The bee will sometimes be born anyway,
but it will usually have some form of birth defect or virus that causes it
to die soon after hatching (birth).


"JNJ" wrote in message
...
Ok, I give -- where are all the bees?

I live in SW Ohio, Zone 6. EVERY year, without fail we have bees
galore --
honey bees mostly, but a fair smattering of bumbles as well. This year,
all
of my trees and plants bloomed beautifully. I let the grass and weeds
grow
in -- they all bloomed (the wild violets nearly covered my front yard --
it
was amazing). The Crab Apple had a HUGE display. In any other spring
season, these trees and plants are just COVERED with bees -- when we walk
down the sidewalk to the cars, we have to dodge the bees they're so
plentiful.

This year, I have seen TWO bumble bees -- both of them inside my parents'
house. That's it -- I have seen a few wasps, a few hornet/yellow jacket
types, and that's it. I've seen no pollinators at all. The trees have
lost
their blooms and are leafing out (if not already fully leafed out), the
weeds have lost their blooms, and the early blooming flowers are gone.

What one earth happened to the bees?

James