On the field beekeeping reporting

[idrisbee]

We have been having a lot of bee swarms since from the last weekof november 2009 uptill this week Jan 2010.Beekeepers have reported very high absconding rates from the newly captured swarms and from old established colonies.
As a beekeeping extension organization,we advised feeding of both captured and established colonies and sometimes caging of newly captured swarms.
Non of these seem to work for us.What is happning ?

[Doris]

Hi Idrisbee

You might have seen the post by Norm in 'Pests and Diseases', where it says that varroa has been found in many locations in Africa now. Maybe you should test your colonies for varroa, as this could be a reason for absconding.

There is a way of testing with powdered sugar, it won't harm the bees.

Doris