Are my bees dead?

[Nicola123]

I left my solitary bee house unattended and checked it today to clean it out but I think all the bees inside must be dead - what do you think?

 

[pargyle]

Hi Nicola, Not sure what we are looking at here ? Is this a box for solitary bees ?

 

[Erichalfbee]

I left my solitary bee house unattended and checked it today to clean it out but I think all the bees inside must be dead - what do you think? View attachment 36359

Yes I’m afraid it looks like it.

 

[ericbeaumont]

solitary bee house unattended

Looks like decomposing larvae in the slot.

What attention does a bee house need?

 

[Nicola123]

Hi Nicola, Not sure what we are looking at here ? Is this a box for solitary bees ?

Yes - the roof section is hinged and it has 3 layers of holes - when you tip back the roof it reveals the top layer of holes under Perspex - the rest you can’t view easily unless you take it apart to clean.

 

[Nicola123]

Looks like decomposing larvae in the slot.

What attention does a bee house need

 

[Nicola123]

Thank you - I was afraid of that. I left it for over a year and you should clean them out to ensure no mites and sand off any rough edges. I wasn’t sure what I was looking at as they look dead but can’t work out why that would be 😟

 

[ericbeaumont]

can’t work out why

Is the box in full sun?

 

[pargyle]

Yes - the roof section is hinged and it reveals the top layer under Perspex - the rest you can’t view.

Ah .. I see now. The angle had me flummoxed ... yes, as has been said, looks like dead larvae in the slot.

 

[Nicola123]

Is the box in full sun?

It was west facing - what’s best place to position please!

 

[Ian123]

It was west facing - what’s best place to position please!

You want full sun…….

 

[Nicola123]

You want full sun…….

Thank you - one other is south facing but I do worry they will overheat in summer - but I’ll clean this one out and put on the south facing wall. Should I try to shade them from the summer heat a little?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thank you - I was afraid of that. I left it for over a year and you should clean them out to ensure no mites and sand off any rough edges. I wasn’t sure what I was looking at as they look dead but can’t work out why that would be 😟

I never clean mine. The bees do it themselves.
In full sun. Mine face south on a sunny wall.

 

[ericbeaumont]

left it for over a year

Perhaps the larvae died last year, or winter was too bitter and they froze.