Thirty-one members met at the Little Theatre in Springvale for dessert, a brief business meeting, and an autopsy workshop.

Two hives were examined and members had an opportunity to gather around the tables and participate.

Discussion included the use of drone frames, how to do an alcohol wash for mites, mite treatments, and the importance of having healthy bees in July so that the winter bees are as strong as possible.

The conclusion on the deadouts was that one was likely a weak hive and couldn’t survive the wild temperature changes that we saw this past winter, and the second hive’s demise was related to a high mite count.