Losses

[Karsal]

Just wandered down my garden this afternoon to check on my hives. A poly nuc with 10 dead bees on the landing board. Two P!"£$% poly hives one with 20 dead bees on the landing board and the one in the middle with hundreds of dead bees all at the front. Hives are heavy and have fondant on as insurance. Is this amount of dead bees a usual occurrance wintertime. Last time I looked at the hives was 6th December.
The weather has been cold and damp last week with this week very wet and blustery.
Is this many losses what to expect this time of year? Attached a picture to show the mortality.

 

[Pete D]

That photo although not quite clear enough doesn't look good.
The others sound normal. Looks as though there are a few not fully developed (white) ones been chucked out.
May of been cold for a few days followed by a mild bit and the bees have come out of a cluster and just had a good clear up by chucking a couple of weeks worth of dead uns out.
Any bees flying ?

 

[Karsal]

Just a few flying from the three hives . This hive has always been the poor one all through summer. Never seemed to build up well.

 

[MuswellMetro]

Just a few flying from the three hives . This hive has always been the poor one all through summer. Never seemed to build up well.

i suspect Nosema on that one then, see if there are dead bees on the floor

 

[peteinwilts]

no mouseguard?

if some mice crept in during a cold spell, they can cause carnage.

do the dead bees have their stings pulled out?

 

[Karsal]

Thanks for the comments.
I'll look for the stings missing tomorrow morning. I was assured by P!"£$s during a phonecall that their entrance was in effect a mouseguard.
I have seen plenty of movement in the hive through the hole in the crown board.

 

[Davelin]

The P*ynes entrance blocks need to be turned through 90degrees, then they have a reduced entrance which is half a dozen circular holes like those in a mouseguard.

Agree with MM, slow build up classic symptom of nosema.

 

[Karsal]

Yes thats correct and I've had them like that all year. I did buy the metal mouse guards just in case though.

 

[Davelin]

In that case I doubt it's a mouse problem

 

[beeno]

Hi Karsal,
One of mine looks a bit like this every year at winter die off of the summer bees. Can you give us some hard facts about what the hive got up to during the summer as much of beekeeping is subjective and dependant on peoples' level of expectation.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I have seen plenty of movement in the hive through the hole in the crown board.

better repair that ASAP then - cover with a piece of slate or thin plywood

 

[midnight sun]

As Pete D says with the 'clear out' idea. Just wondering, as the picture is not too clear, are they all yours? Mine were out today and fairly busy due to weather. Any chance that a bit of robbing was attempted as well and many of them are attributed to the result of a battle? Adding the clear out, to results of robbing, could make up the numbers seen. Just possible?

 

[Karsal]

Thanks Beeno, there does seem to be a lot of activity in the hive. Weather here in Blackburn been wet and windy for several days with a couple of hard frost last weekend.
I suppose at the end of the day the outcome of the hive ultimately is with the bees and very little I do will affect the outcome. I am after all in my first year of keeping bees and its a steep learning curve however I will learn from this.

 

[beeno]

I suppose at the end of the day the outcome of the hive ultimately is with the bees and very little I do will affect the outcome. I am after all in my first year of keeping bees and its a steep learning curve however I will learn from this.

Yep, I understand all that. However, if one cannot correctly analyse what the problem is, if indeed there is one, then it cannot be put right, assuming that there is a possibility to do so this time or the next time. Let's hope it's a one off, I am sure you will be keeping a close eye on them! All the best.

 

[Karsal]

Examined a handful of bees this morning and all had their stings intact. Could the hive have water getting in? I have not opened the hive since the beginning of September so all gaps should be propolised and sealed up from the elements. They are on an open mesh floor, Could it be draughty? May close this down a little. Another 50 or so were dead on the landing board this morning.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

They are on an open mesh floor, Could it be draughty?

If you've got a gaping hole in the crownboard then yes

May close this down a little..

I would close the hole in the crownboard completeteli if I were you

 

[theeggman]

If it's Payne's poly there will be little / nil ventilation through the roof, even the 'new' roof is a snug fit.

P.S. Just looked at the piccy.
Is that a QX between the brood and super?
If it is it needs to come off for the winter,

 

[Karsal]

No queen excluder on its a crown board with a 30mm hole covered up with fondant. It's been suggest infected with acarine?

 

[Hivemaker.]

What more did you do with regards varroa treatment after what you posted in the link below.

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=437198&postcount=12

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

All that thymol should have nuked acarine. But talk of light-coloured dead bees above suggests viruses which suggests mites. Which suggests your thymol application might not have been effective. I don't feel experienced enough to advise a course of action and it mght be limited at this time of the year in terms of aggressive treatments of non-mite problems, but mites can be treated effectively at this time of year and that might be a good place to start.

The artifical-wood effect on the poly is a work of art by the way. Amazing.