Our new π hive is going through a long struggle to survive. The new bees exhibited dysentery when they were first 'hived' then within a day or so they swarmed leaving an empty hive behind. I luckily found the swarm but lost many - perhaps 2/3s the total - when I recaptured them. This April has been colder and wetter than usual which is difficult for a beginning hive and the lack of a substantial density of bees both to keep warm and to tend the developing brood is really hampering our guys. The front landing feeder though great for supplementing their feeding when natural sources are scarce, can also attract robber bees causing yet more drain on the energy reserves of such a small hive. So far we see good signs of life but we are hoping that it will last long enough for the colony to increase in size.
