My Cousins bees - not looking good.

[Ziffa]

I'm very worried about my cousins bees.  I'm afraid it might be too late.  Here are the pics he sent me this week.

Last week he said the numbers were good, and he sent pics where I saw eggs, but very little capped brood.  In these pictures it looks like there are several queen cells, low populations, not a lot of brood and the beginnings of wax moth invasion.

I am buried at work, and not sure what to tell him to do.  Can ya'll help me with some advice to forward to him?  I"ve asked him to join the forums, but he seems resistant. 

Thanks for any help. 

[LazyBkpr]

   I dont even see one full frame of bees there?
   I have no idea what he has available for resources...     If I found that in my yard I would spray the frames with BT first..   FIND the queen second..   
   Are there eggs/larvae in the queen cells or are they just queen cups?
   If there is no queen I think I would combine that with a good strong hive, let them clean it, get it re filled with a good brood pattern, then pull it off again and put a queen in.   Lots of options, but primary will be stopping the wax moth and determining if there is a laying queen.   If there IS a queen, adding bees and brood might get her kick started... I would be hesitant about giving her too much time. May is nearly over.

[Ziffa]

Thanks Lazy,

That's what I'm afraid of.  I told him to pull the frames and scrape/freeze them.  I'll tell him about BT - can you get that quickly or is it something you have to order?

Unfortunately - he is a loner and this is a lone  hive.  I've been trying to find someone in his area to reach out, but no success as of yet.  I told him he may have to try and purchase a queen or package.  I saw eggs on the 13th and expected to see a lot more capped brood, so was surprised by the pics.  I think the queen either left or is / was defective and they killed her. 

I've asked if there is more brood on other frames and how many bees he sees (if any frames are covered).  I recommended he reduce the hive to the smallest possible condensing any brood and stores. 

I'm so sad!  they looked good at the beginning of spring.  I hate not being able to see them for myself!  I have a new respect for all of you who look at pictures and advise from afar!

Thanks again for the reply.  I"ll forward the BT advice.

love,
ziffa

[iddee]

I told you before to have him contact beehandler on this forum. He is in his neighborhood. If he won't do that, he must not want help very badly.

[GLOCK]

looks domed to me that's to bad .  Could of it swarmed? It looks like no bees left .
I say if your going  to have bees you should have at least 3 hives then you can have resources to fix things but that's me .
Better luck next time.

[Ziffa]

Hi Iddee - I did pm Beehandler but didn't get a response.  I'm not sure how often he is on here.

I've asked my cousin to join the forums again so hopefully he will!   I don't think he doesn't want help, I think forums are just a new thing to him and he isn't comfortable asking.

I agree about the multiple hives.  If he loses this hive, I am going to urge him to try 2 and also super-urge him to find a club or join here or SOMEONE who can help him hands on for at least a bit. 

So sad, though.  Fingers crossed.  Thanks again for the replies.

love,
ziffa