Nr30

Main concern

Previous notes reported laying workers, and current inspection flags disease signs despite the presence of brood. The queen's status remains unconfirmed.

Next inspection aim

Confirm current queen status and clarify the reported disease signs with an experienced lead beekeeper.

What to bring

• Smoker
• Hive tool
• Clean nitrile gloves
• Record sheet or app
• Camera for photo documentation
• Personal protective equipment

Step-by-step plan

1. Contact a Project Apis lead beekeeper before opening the hive to discuss the 'disease signs' flag and previous 'laying worker' report.
2. Observe the hive entrance for abnormal activity or smells before opening.
3. Perform a calm, thorough inspection focusing on the brood pattern to differentiate between healthy brood and potential disease.
4. Do not pull every frame if the condition is clear early on; minimize disturbance.
5. Document the brood frames clearly with photos if possible.
6. Check for the queen or consistent signs of a laying queen versus multiple eggs (indicative of laying workers).
7. Record all findings immediately and report to the lead beekeeper.

Do not do

• Do not proceed without contacting a lead beekeeper first.
• Do not ignore the previous notes regarding laying workers.
• Do not perform invasive manipulations if the colony appears stressed or diseased.
• Do not move equipment between apiaries without thorough sanitization.
• Do not attempt to 'fix' the colony until a lead beekeeper has evaluated the situation.

Escalate if

• Signs of sunken, greasy, or perforated cappings are observed.
• Brood pattern is highly irregular (scattered, multiple eggs per cell).
• There is a foul or unusual smell coming from the hive.
• The colony appears to have no viable brood and no queen presence.
• You identify any signs mentioned in the Black status criteria.