Hive loss

[Topcat33]

Hi, I have 3 hives in Lancashire and up to end of October all were taking lots of syrup, changed to fondant in November and only the larger of the 3 took any.
When I went to give varroa treatment last week, one hive had only a small cluster of dead bees left in and a small colony in another hive, the larger one was perfect.
Never lost any like this before
Plenty of syrup on frames
They all had a drawn super underneath and insulation above crown board in roof space
Not examined up close yet but can’t understand

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

when did you last treat for varroa? December is a little late unless you treated in the autumn

 

[Topcat33]

I missed the autumn treatment but hives were so healthy up to late autumn and produced loads of honey this year, do you think varroa could be the cause

 

[Erichalfbee]

I missed the autumn treatment but hives were so healthy up to late autumn and produced loads of honey this year, do you think varroa could be the cause

Always sensible to presume the bees have varroa. Don't assume they are healthy. You can say they have little varroa only if you monitor with a sugar shake or alcohol wash.
I would hazard that varroa is the culprit.
I would consider vaping the surviving colony three times

 

[ericbeaumont]

healthy up to late autumn

Bees born in late summer, natural life-span 6 weeks, dead by now.

produced loads of honey this year

Strong colonies produce a lot of honey but also big varroa populations.

you think varroa could be the cause

Yes (but post photos of brood combs when you investigate).

 

[Topcat33]

Bees born in late summer, natural life-span 6 weeks, dead by now.


Strong colonies produce a lot of honey but also big varroa populations.


Yes (but post photos of brood combs when you investigate).

Looking like my poor husbandry, will post photos

 

[Penninetrader]

Hi, I have 3 hives in Lancashire and up to end of October all were taking lots of syrup, changed to fondant in November and only the larger of the 3 took any.
When I went to give varroa treatment last week, one hive had only a small cluster of dead bees left in and a small colony in another hive, the larger one was perfect.
Never lost any like this before
Plenty of syrup on frames
They all had a drawn super underneath and insulation above crown board in roof space
Not examined up close yet but can’t understand

Did you find the Queens ? Dead or alive ? Sounds more likely untimely Queen loss. i got caught out by this on what I thought a foolproof colony. I had taken my eye off of the ball. When did you last notice eggs larvae or capped brood, is there any leftover capped brood or chilled brood on the frames ?

 

[ericbeaumont]

a small colony in another hive

When you're doing the autopsy & treatment, I suggest that you put it and the best combs into a 6-frame poly nuc.

 

[Topcat33]

Did you find the Queens ? Dead or alive ? Sounds more likely untimely Queen loss. i got caught out by this on what I thought a foolproof colony. I had taken my eye off of the ball. When did you last notice eggs larvae or capped brood, is there any leftover capped brood or chilled brood on the frames ?

I did not look in the brood chambers after September as I didn’t want to disturb what I thought were great colonies. I am bringing the hive home for inspection tomorrow.

 

[Penninetrader]

I did not look in the brood chambers after September as I didn’t want to disturb what I thought were great colonies. I am bringing the hive home for

I did not look in the brood chambers after September as I didn’t want to disturb what I thought were great colonies. I am bringing the hive home for inspection tomorrow.

Hopefully you will have a clear answer after your inspection. What will you do with the small colony to give it a chance ?

 

[boywonder]

If the bees are relatively fresh (and you can get access to a compound microscope), you could do worse than crush some up (or freeze them to do this at a later date), in order to look for signs of Nosema infestation.

I did this the last time I had a serious/inexplicable dead out situation, and found the bees to have been riddled with both n.apis and n.ceranae.

Since then, I've been on an unrelenting mission to focus on bee health, which each autumn now involves feed with thymolated syrup. I also don't carry any colonies of borderline strength into winter.

Pride comes before a fall, of course, but such dead outs are now a very unusual thing for me.

It might of course be varooisis in your case (or queen failure, or, or, or), but I think the potentially grave effects of Nosema shouldn't be overlooked.