Hi Folks,
A friend, 2017 newbee, called me, a 2011 newbee, to look at one of his two hives. Pile of dead bees on the ground in front. A dozen dead and dying bees on top of the inner cover. Maybe about twenty dead and dying bees inside, on bottom board. Dying bees were trembling, obviously in spasms prior to death. Nosema (diarrhea) stains on inner cover. No noticeable dead bees in the other hive,... but nosema stains on inner cover.
Southeast Massachusetts. Cranberry bogs. Rural setting. He said his neighbors know of his bees, they don't use pesticides. There ARE small vegetable gardens around. IDK. I live a half mile away. Shared forage area. My bees are fine.
It was his stronger hive. Now knocked back. However, still lots of bees, capped brood and larvae in hive. We saw the queen. Active and recently laying. Too many bees and too many frames of brood to identify and pull best frames and queen out to a new, clean nuc.
Thoughts??? What to do? I have fumagillin. Never used it. Never had to. Could it help? Could it hurt?
Sal