Hive debris help

[The Poot in Somerset]

Debris on the inspection tray of one colony shows dismembered bees - see photo
Any idea of why - could it be wasp kills earlier in the Autumn falling through or something worse, like a shrew? Mouse guards went on in September but by opening up the entrance at that time I did see increase wasp entry.
Thanks in anticipation of your comments.

 

[Millet]

I see the same with all of mine from time to time and mice definitely can not get in..also wasps are not a issue for me..if you continue to see lots of chewed up bees maybe check the entrance is not blocked with a little piece of wire with a hook on the end..

 

[citrus]

I see slugs chewing up dead bees on the landing pad leaving this sort of residue

could that be the reason ?

 

[Heather]

How long was the inspection tray under the hive?.
It is only an inspection tray and I usually leave under for max 4 days for varroa assessment. If been there a while, then , yes wasps been killing bees.

 

[enrico]

I think it is more simple. Bees die, they have to get rid of them, some get dry and fall to bits, others get chewed by other bees to make them easy to remove. Especially if you have mouse guards. Natural lifecycle I reckon.
I put my mouse guards on over my reduced entrance. If the mouse guards are arches rather than holes I lift hem slightly off the floor, I find that in the spring it doesn't knock the pollen sacks off then.

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

Hi Heather - the tray had been in place for 9 days. This is the third time I've seen this result in this hive. This is my only hive with this debris, which is why I am concerned.
I take your point Enrico and hope you're right, but I would then expect to see the same in my other hives which were mouse guarded at the same time.
It's because it's only happening in one hive that I thought it might be something odd.
Thanks for your thoughts,

 

[Millet]

Hi Heather - the tray had been in place for 9 days. This is the third time I've seen this result in this hive. This is my only hive with this debris, which is why I am concerned.
I take your point Enrico and hope you're right, but I would then expect to see the same in my other hives which were mouse guarded at the same time.
It's because it's only happening in one hive that I thought it might be something odd.
Thanks for your thoughts,

Have you thought about the terrestrial other side..

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

Have you thought about the terrestrial other side..

You've lost me there Millet, and for the record, I'm not close to Glastonbury

 

[Cuckmere couple]

i agree with Enrico

ive heard bees struggle to remove dead bodies through mouse guards and they have to get rid somewhere....i snipped the bottom of the holes of my mous guard to create an arch to hope to it helps them remove dead bees

 

[Madge]

..
....i snipped the bottom of the holes of my mous guard to create an arch to hope to it helps them remove dead bees

I might be wrong, but it seems to me that all the mouse needs to do with your mouse guards is to turn its head sideways, and crawl in.

 

[Millet]

I might be wrong, but it seems to me that all the mouse needs to do with your mouse guards is to turn its head sideways, and crawl in.

Explain better please.. i have 9mm mouse guards all year around and nothing mammal wise is getting in end of.. them bits on the inspection boards are normal...
My trays are shoved in 24/7 now as they have been prior to this year and the last and so on... them chewed up bees are normal with my healthy hives..

 

[Hivemaker.]

Explain better please.. i have 9mm mouse guards all year around and nothing mammal wise is getting in end of

...and have you also cut the lower holes out (elongated them vertically) to make them into archways?

 

[Eyeman]

if your concerned then take the mouse guard off and give the side of the hive a few good bangs with your hand or jiggle the insert board under the OMF and see if anyone shoots out!
Better to get the shrew/mouse out now.

 

[Millet]

...and have you also cut the lower holes out (elongated them vertically) to make them into archways?

No I have 9mm tunnel entrances in 24/7.

 

[Hivemaker.]

No I have 9mm tunnel entrances in 24/7.

So what is it you need explaining better in the post by Kitta replying to CC?

 

[Curly green fingers]

if your concerned then take the mouse guard off and give the side of the hive a few good bangs with your hand or jiggle the insert board under the OMF and see if anyone shoots out!
Better to get the shrew/mouse out now.

I'm with you on this one , your advice seems just.
I've also seen bee depris on one of my inspection boards when I removed apivar a couple of weeks ago there was no mice but lots of huge slugs.
I've put it down to the house bees removing dead bees and the slugs .

 

[Millet]

So what is it you need explaining better in the post by Kitta replying to CC?

Because i get bits of bees on the inspection trays that has nothing to do with mice..

 

[Hivemaker.]

Because i get bits of bees on the inspection trays that has nothing to do with mice..

Kitta never said anything about bits of bees, she just mentioned to CC that by making the holes bigger there was a risk of mice being able to get in, which of course there is.

 

[Karsal]

I do think you are worrying unduly that your colony has a problem. If you consider there could be over 5,000 bees in the hive then remains of three or four over a week or so on the bottom board is nothing to be concerned about. As others have said in previous posts. This is not the time of year to be looking inside your hives anyway.
I think you will be surprised just how resilient the bees can be and come spring they will be out foraging and winter forgotten.

 

[Nige.Coll]

When dead bees are dragged across the mesh floor any bits that stick out can get snapped off.
Wings and legs are favourite.
If the dead bee gets stuck it can be pulled apart.
If they have been dead for a while this is easier to do.