Beekeepers are being asked to complete a short survey after a number of reports regarding bee deaths at the close of California’s almond bloom.

The California State Beekeepers Association (CSBA) is asking beekeepers to fill out a short survey and e-mail it.

Information to the CSBA suggests that beekeepers picking up their hives from almond orchards found the emerging brood in failing health or already dead. Carlen Jupe of the CSBA says the bee supply was severely short this spring and will continue to be challenged by the bloom sprays that seem to have impacted bee hives in California.

Jupe says reports suggest that beekeepers noticed significant losses of their brood about two weeks after fungicide and/or a combination that included IGR’s were applied to blooming almonds. In many cases, the hive entrances became clogged with dead, young bees and pupae that failed to hatch.

Beekeepers that experienced these losses are encouraged to file a report with the county agricultural commissioner’s office where the loss took place.

The CSBA is asking beekeepers to submit the following short survey to Gene Brandi, president of the American Beekeeping Federation, at [email protected]