Dead Bees

[Etton]

Loads of dead bees outside the hive with many being dragged out. Its either the hive clearing out dead bees from inside or they have starved. Its quite a heavy hive and I had presumed no feed necessary but have placed a slab of fondant on the top bars. Meant to be 15c/16c on Wednesday so I shall see if they are taking the fondant, will check for stores, look for brood and remove nadired super. I know a bit early for inspection but I need to know if they have sufficient stores. I dont wish to give too much fondant which could be stored if they already have sufficient stores.Unlikely to be poisoning. Any other ideas?

 

[blackcloud]

I had a lost a colony(see "Fatality")through what was thought to be starvation,despite seemingly normal behaviour and some appetite for fondant.
The freshly dead half of the colony was still clinging to the frames while the other half which had died some time earlier was piled up on the mesh.
My tuppence worth as a newb would suggest that if they are doing undertaker duties then they still have their work-ethic about them so they might yet still not be in real decline.

 

[Newbeeneil]

I checked a couple of my hives late this afternoon and there were quite a number of chilled bees around the base. It looked as though the bees chilled as the sun went down. They were still alive but lethargic and unable to get into the hive.

 

[MartinL]

Its either the hive clearing out dead bees from inside or they have starved. . . . .
Any other ideas?

If they starve, it's all together.

How many hives do you have, if they have good stores, could be the aftermath of robbers??


Could also be a swarm moving in after your bees starved???

 

[Finman]

Loads of dead bees outside the hive

Meant to be 15c/16c on Wednesday so I shall see if they are taking the ?

It was warm day and bees could clean cold corners from the hive. Bees are not many in your picture. Most old bees fly to die far from the hive. And they die on their journeys.

 

[fatshark]

Not really 'loads' ...

How many bees at the end of the summer ... ? Say 30,000.
How many at the low point (numbers-wise) of the winter ... ? Probably <10,000
How many bees die a day (all other things being equal) ... ? ~150

There's probably only double that on the paving slab. I reckon it's corpses being dragged out.

"Bring out your dead"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grbSQ6O6kbs

A swarm in Yorkshire in mid-March? Perhaps not

 

[Finman]

My tuppence worth as a newb would suggest that if they are doing undertaker duties then they still have their work-ethic about them so they might yet still not be in real decline.

Some drop down and some hang between frames. Nothing miracle in it.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Loads of dead bees outside the hive with many being dragged out?

If the bees had all died, there would be none left to drag the corpses out would there?
Just the normal clearing out day after bad weather, it's from now on you'll see more evidence of bee mortality as all the bees who have survived all winter, now burdened with frantic new season brooding, finally give up and drop dead.

 

[Etton]

Gave a liquid feed as well...just in case!

 

[Etton]

If they starve, it's all together.

How many hives do you have, if they have good stores, could be the aftermath of robbers??


Could also be a swarm moving in after your bees starved???

Nine hives so itcould be robbing.... but I doubt it.

 

[madasafish]

Put your hives on grass: you then cannot see dead bees to worry about says I facetiously.

Seriously, it just looks like normal clearing out of the dead on a fine day.. Try lifting one side of the hive with 3 fingers.. If it's heavy and too heavy ## to lift then they have enough stored. If you can lift easily, feed fondant as a quick and easy fix. Or a liquid feed .

## ensuring the boxes are not stuck together/to the stand.

 

[citrus]

I checked a couple of my hives late this afternoon and there were quite a number of chilled bees around the base. It looked as though the bees chilled as the sun went down. They were still alive but lethargic and unable to get into the hive.

Yeah I noticed this on my hives when doing a moonlight walk to the bottom of the garden last night to check the hens

 

[citrus]

Yeah I noticed this on my hives when doing a moonlight walk to the bottom of the garden last night to check the hens

is this a problem this time of year ... sun out and feels warm ... but as the bees get caught limping home in the cold and not everyone makes it back :-(

 

[Finman]

is this a problem this time of year :-(

No. One bee on moon walk at night? That is not true.

It is a sick bee, which dragged out or walked itself. Why it is out at night, let it be an eternal secret.


One bee dead or alive, it has no meaning.

 

[citrus]

No. One bee on moon walk at night? That is not true.

It is a sick bee, which dragged out or walked itself. Why it is out at night, let it be an eternal secret.


One bee dead or alive, it has no meaning.

yeah the pictures dont show it well but there was ~10-15 bees with pollen loaded that never made it back to the hive ... the temp was nice and warm in the afternoon then the sun went in and caught these bees out on their return leg :-(

 

[Finman]

yeah the pictures dont show it well but there was ~10-15 bees with pollen loaded that never made it back to the hive .:-(

That is usual. Bees are flying at their temp limits and then they drop down in the shadow of the hive. They cannot rise up without sun's heat.

 

[enrico]

Just a quickie, check under the omf, sometimes returning bees will fly under the entrance. They then cluster there because they can't get through the floor but they think they are in the hive. As the night gets cold they die.
To stop it bock off the bit between the floor and the slab they are stood on. Check tonight if that is what is happening!
E

 

[Etton]

Just a quickie, check under the omf, sometimes returning bees will fly under the entrance. They then cluster there because they can't get through the floor but they think they are in the hive. As the night gets cold they die.
To stop it bock off the bit between the floor and the slab they are stood on. Check tonight if that is what is happening!
E

Good tip. Thanks

 

[ASPIRERITE]

I would give them some fondant and treat for mite. Its all you can do and it wont hurt them as long as you vapour treat

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I would give them some fondant and treat for

Why?