I can't speak for anywhere else, but in Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa, Winter had bad news for honey bees. Losses in general were high, often, too high.
This year, the bee club I belong to ( The Omaha Bee Club) has a bee trapping contest this Spring. Whoever catches the most swarms in their bait hives wins the contest.
Some in the area have bemoaned the fact that not as many colonies, managed and feral, survived into the Spring to catch very many swarms. This is unfortunately true.
Having said that, for those bees that have survived and made it through to see the Spring of 2014, those are some AWESOME genetics. Talk about having some tough survivor stock to build up from.
They managed food stores well. They were able to break and reform the main cluster during the rapidly up and down temperatures. They resisted Varroa mites successfully. They built up a strong population when they were supposed to.
I want those bees!
You know you want them too.
Lost both hives behind my house. Looks like they were just to cold to move because there was honey in the hive. The good news is there was a mass robbing by some feral bees..... those hives are going to stay empty in hopes of catching some of those genetics.
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