The Collapse of a High Mite Hive

Do you simply look for mites on bees during frame inspections or gauge apparent health based on the number of bees? Watch this disturbing video that documents the downfall of an untreated hive at the end of summer.

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**Message from Dr. Peck, Betterbee’s Director of Research and Education:**

"As a varroa scientist, it's frustrating to warn people in the spring about the dangers of ignoring their mites, only to have the same beekeepers come back in the fall wondering why their bees have died.

I set this hive up as a demonstration and a warning to beekeepers of the harm that unmanaged varroa mites can do. By simply providing this healthy, untreated colony with a few frames of drone comb and then ignoring their mites, they grew to a huge size, made plenty of honey… and then collapsed, died, and were robbed out in the fall. In a matter of weeks all of the bees died, the brood were left to rot, and some of the mites made their way into nearby hives. In that time, the only other colony in this apiary saw their mite numbers skyrocket. Betterbee even had to give free miticides to one of our employees with hives up the road, to apologize for the influx of mites his bees received from this collapsing colony.

In my research, I've watched mites do this over and over again. So when I warn you to keep your mites in check, and I send you the link to this video, please take my message to heart and plan to monitor and fight your mites. And if you ignore me and mites kill your bees, too, please shoot some footage and send it in, so we can edit it onto the end of this video to make the warning that much stronger."

[blackberry]

Thanks for reminding us the hard way and sacrificing a hive for everybody.

[themaverickbeekeeper]

A good learning tool, but to see a colony suffering is tragic.

[Westernwilson]

Interesting that the honey harvest was so vastly reduced as a result of Varroa infestation as well.

[MechWarrior]

I never did mite checks when I should have, but one of my hives looked just like this one before absconding in the fall. I need to be better next year.

[alastair]

Awesome video. At last when people tell me they don't know why there are suddenly no bees in their hive, and they don't believe me when I say it was very likely varroa mites cos they didn't see any plus the hive seemed fine a few weeks ago, I can point them to this video. Nice work!

[robertglenn]

Just happened to my hive as a first year beek. I have treated for the mite from hell since installing my hive last May.
What I failed to do is to test for the mite from hell.
I have to test now to make sure this is not foulbrood, I don't believe that it is. For there is no odor emitted from the frames.
If by chance that it is, I don't know if I can continue to raise bees. Being retired having to destroy my hive would cause me to cancel bees next spring . My advice to any new beek is to be sure to test, regardless if you have mentors that do not test. They probably have a more experienced eye to spot trouble and know how to avoid it.
Thanks
Prayers appreciated! No sympathy. I know how I failed by not treating. Foulbrood out of my control!

[manekdubash]

So depressing that some people won't treat - and so condemn their bees and those of other beekeepers to a slow death. Horrible.

[etiennelabeille]

Very useful and much of this info is new to me. I thought I knew about varroa.

[susanrowland]

Wow! Thanks for posting an excellent video.

[robbailes]

Literally just went through this with a really big hive. I got really busy at work and the hive looked so strong I thought everything was ok. So numbers of bees entering the hive doesn’t mean it’s a heathy hive. When I saw no bees I quickly suited up but it was too late. The hive was full of mites. Question is no what do I do? Can you please make a video explaining what to do with this situation if you want to get another swarm? Please

[petercooney]

Won’t shaking a brood frame damage brood?

[Prober]

If the hive gets robbed aren't the mites catching a ride on the robber bees?