cornishcat
New Bee
Another way is to dry them in Aga, as mentioned, then dip in honey, tempura batter and deep fry....yummy!
Another way is to dry them in Aga, as mentioned, then dip in honey, tempura batter and deep fry....yummy!
Thanks Oliver, I had thought of robbing as a possibility, but I have been very careful to ensure that the roof is seated properly and is bee-proof every time I put it back on. However you could be right.
Checked the hive again last evening and all seemed ok - they had brought down another 1.25 l of syrup and all appeared to be ok. I have sent a sample of bees away today for disease diagnosis (just in case) so I might get some answers.
I am baffled - I got a reply from the Bees Diagnostic Service that there was no disease, which was good news.
The bees have since being bringing down syrup with very few dead bees evident. However today when I checked the last set of jars that went on last Friday evening the jars were empty but there must have been over 200 dead bees on the floor around the jars.
To date they have brought down almost 2 1/2 gals of 2:1 syrup and no doubt will take more. could they be hungry and be fighting each other for the syrup ? Could there be robbers coming into the hive (front entrance) and making their way upstairs ?
The adjacent hive is getting the same syrup and doesn't have any dead bees.
Thanks Oliver, I had thought of robbing as a possibility, but I have been very careful to ensure that the roof is seated properly and is bee-proof every time I put it back on. However you could be right.
Checked the hive again last evening and all seemed ok - they had brought down another 1.25 l of syrup and all appeared to be ok. I have sent a sample of bees away today for disease diagnosis (just in case) so I might get some answers.
Where exactly are these dead bees? It sounds like you are saying that they are above the crownboard. If so, it seems very likely that they are robbers trying to get to your feeder through a gap and then getting stuck in the space between the crownboard and the roof where they will starve or die of cold.
Bees (either yours or robbers) should not have any access to the space above the crownboard.
Yes they are above the crownboard in a super containing jars of syrup and they have free access between the super and the brood chamber, through the hole in the crownboard. The jars are on timber laths about 18mm high and the jar lids are perforated underneath to allow them remove the syrup.
The temperature at night has not gone below 12C so it's unlikely they are getting cold.
Well, unless it is a problem with your syrup, I would suggest ditching your jars and placing a rapid feeder directly over the feedhole (and blocking the other hole), then you have eliminated any access to the area where they are all dying.
Wasn't until I gaffer-taped the crownboard on the very top and then similarly round edges of roof to make it totally bee/wasp proof that I established my dead 'feeders' in a miller feeder must have been robbers, they had been coming from outside not inside.
Are there any dead wasps among the bees? this could be an indication.
I have to ask are the jar`s dripping if so the bees will get stuck like they
would when it rains on top of the hive and drowned.
This is the only logic i can think of, I would check the flow of the jars there may be one leaking, or invest in a rappid feeder which i us.
hope this helps good luck finding the solution.
Enter your email address to join: