It is tme to order packages

There has been a break in the rain and yesterday the sun was out and it was warm enough to go into the hives.  I had been nervously awaiting this day, wondering just how the bees were surviving.  I was wishing for the best even though I really expected the worst.  And my expectations were fulfilled.
I checked the nuc first.  There was only a handful of bees left, no brood, no stored food.  They did not seem to be taking the syrup and much of the pollen patty was left.  I just left the nuc as it was knowing it will be empty of bees in a few weeks.  Actually, I was a little surprised that there were still any there.
It was sad to look into #2.  Even though there was light activity at the entrance, there was less than a frame of bees in the top box.  There was still plenty of capped honey and some bee bread.  The bottom box was empty and the comb was moldy.  There was some wax moth evidence.  There was some dead brood and one pathetically small queen cell.  There were no nurse bees on the brood.  There was a teaspoon or so of water in the tray below the screen indicating, along with the mold, that there had not been enough bees to properly ventilate the hive.

Dead brood without nurse bees

 

Pathetically small queen cell.  A futile attempt

No. 2 will clearly soon be without any bees.  I took some time considering my options and decided to just leave the hive there.  I did not see any robbing activity and I did not want to add these bees to Olea's.
Olea's hive looks strong.  There is both capped and uncapped honey.  I inspected to bar 10 which had pretty healthy looking brood.  There was a lot of pollen coming in the entrance.  The bad news is that I saw one bee with DWV, but even one bee does not bode well.  I am just going to let Olea's alone (i.e., not treat).  We can all hope it makes it.
I plan to order three packages with VSH bees..  Harris Bees looks like a good source.  However, he has not responded to my several attempts to contact him.  I do not know if he is even still in business.  I will probably get the bees from Olivarez Bees.  They say all their bees are VSH.  I will order the packages this week from one or the other.  Pick up is in April and it since it is a 4 hour drive, it will most likely involve an overnight stay somewhere.
If Olea's does not survive, I will repopulate it with a split, or if I get lucky, a swarm.