Piles of dead bees under hives

[Erichalfbee]

most of my floors have underfloor tunnel entrances with nailed-in mesh so make it more tricky for the bees to reorientate, or to replicate in an eke, but I'll triy your idea.

So do I. I’ll post a picture for you later

 

[Tony Warren]

The colonies have almost completely recovered now, are looking strong and are mostly packing in the honey in this good weather. However, I replaced the OMF on one hive and the bees are mostly unable to find the entrance and hang under the OMF. I did it in the late evening when all bees were inside and filled the entrance with grass but they haven't reoriented. I put in the varroa floor to help but they can find their way past that. Any remedies before I do the other hives?

Mine were a bit confused at first and it was a bit chaotic but they sorted themselves out. I put the Varroa board in and removed the entrance restrictor to give them maximum access. Once they have sorted themselves out you can set the entrance to whatever you prefer. Good to hear that they recovered from the CBPV.

 

[robmort]

As the Varroa board doesn't seal off the OMF, I think the best solution is to put a solid floor back in to get them used the side entrance again

 

[Erichalfbee]

As the Varroa board doesn't seal off the OMF, I think the best solution is to put a solid floor back in to get them used the side entrance again

It does if you block the back off

 

[Karsal]

Are your hives completely empty of stores?

It's been such a bad season so far with very little forage they could easily have been robbed out.

 

[robmort]

Are your hives completely empty of stores?

It's been such a bad season so far with very little forage they could easily have been robbed out.

I didn't say that at all.

 

[jarmo henttu]

2 weeks ago before I went on holiday one of my 3 hives was bursting with bees. When I returned it was far less busy, but had not swarmed, as the queen is still there with no QCs and plenty of BIAS. But there are big piles of dead bees under and in front of the hive, as there are also in front of the other 2 otherwise healthy hives.

I have another hive 1/2 mile away that has also piles of dead bees but is otherwise healthy.
Could they be old winter bees (not noticed though in previous years) or

2 weeks ago before I went on holiday one of my 3 hives was bursting with bees. When I returned it was far less busy, but had not swarmed, as the queen is still there with no QCs and plenty of BIAS. But there are big piles of dead bees under and in front of the hive, as there are also in front of the other 2 otherwise healthy hives.

I have another hive 1/2 mile away that has also piles of dead bees but is otherwise healthy.
Could they be old winter bees (not noticed though in previous years) or maybe insecticide being used somewhere?
View attachment 40128

Quite an old story.