A local apiarist has today left a hive in my garden - all my tea tree is in bloom currently - for the first time he has lost quite a few hives & has had to feed his bees ... his cold pressed organic honey is the best I have ever tasted - I hope the bees do well here
Jane Feeding bees with CS will cause them to die. This was tested about a decade ago, and what happens is that it kills the flora that the bees have in the (honey) stomach required for digestion of sugars, so they end up eating and eating until the become bloated, then they die of starvation. I use NOTHING with my bees. I acquired survivor stock bees, and regressed them down to their natural size. The apiary I got them from is treatment free, and has winter losses 1/5 those which treat. I make sure that none of the combs in the hive have ever been exposed to any treatments as well, and only feed honey if needed. I have never seen a mite on any of them. I follow the advise given in the organicbeekeepers yahoo group. Marshall
