Let's hope this is a better year for MY bees, as it has come to everyone's attention that wild bees were decimated this last season. 

  Mine were also assailed by mites, small hive beetle and wax moth, causing the death of one colony and the absconscion of three more. (they flew the coop and took the honey...presumedly to escape the infestations)

  I just recolonied and requeened yesterday.  A beautiful day!  Maybe (knock on wood) warm weather has finally arrived.  $135 for the new queens is a hard nut to swallow, but I feel it is my contribution to the saving of the environment.  Wild bees are almost a thing of the past due to the diseases they've fallen prey to.  Only with the help of humans, will bees, and therefore, flowers, trees, crops, etc. survive.