Whodunit!

The case of the winter losses.

Overwintering losses can be disheartening and set beekeepers back, but with the right preparation and refined techniques, the chances of colony survival can be greatly improved. Framed as a murder mystery, Dylan Gussman, in this talk delves into the common causes of winter colony deaths and how to uncover the “clues” left behind. Learn how to perform effective colony post-mortems to determine what went wrong - and how to use that knowledge to strengthen your overwintering strategy. The victim - the honey bee colony - has evolved useful techniques to survive this harsh period, but it is up to the beekeeper to aid them through this time. Along the way, practical tips and tricks will be shared to help you avoid the repeat offenders that so often catch beekeepers out and ensure your bees are ready for a strong start to the new season.