Spring sorting

[jeff33]

Hi all,
I checked one of the apiary today and noticed a lack of activity in one of the hive. The buggers have absconded sometimes over the last 3 weeks. Not sure what chances they stand at this time of year.
I also noticed a lack of brood cappings on a couple of hives trays, maybe late starters or failed queens. How do you deal with these on 1st inspection, shake them out or unite if there's no laying workers?

 

[Boston Bees]

I checked one of the apiary today and noticed a lack of activity in one of the hive. The buggers have absconded sometimes over the last 3 weeks.

Does this really happen? Genuine question. What makes you sure they haven't just died out? Why would any colony abscond in March?

 

[jeff33]

Does this really happen? Genuine question. What makes you sure they haven't just died out? Why would any colony abscond in March?

Because I opened the crown board when I couldn't see any activity and the hive was empty, not a single bee, not even a dead one on the floor.

 

[elainemary]

Hi all,
I checked one of the apiary today and noticed a lack of activity in one of the hive. The buggers have absconded sometimes over the last 3 weeks. Not sure what chances they stand at this time of year.
I also noticed a lack of brood cappings on a couple of hives trays, maybe late starters or failed queens. How do you deal with these on 1st inspection, shake them out or unite if there's no laying workers?

This happened to me a couple of seasons ago. Queen left behind (failing, no brood) with a small handful of loyal bees in late March / early April. Rest had absconded next door. I know as they were lighter in colour than the v dark colony alongside and the only lighter coloured bee in the apiary.

 

[enrico]

Yes they do abscond. Had one many years ago. Just disappeared! I wouldn't be too keen to sacrifice slow starters yet though. So e of my slow starters have excelled!

 

[Antipodes]

Does this really happen? Genuine question. What makes you sure they haven't just died out? Why would any colony abscond in March?

Absolutely fair question but yes, absconding does happen. I've seen it three times and was there to witness it each time. I suspected it on a fourth occasion ( a big colony), but was not there to witness it. First time was from a poly nuc that I poured too much syrup into too many times. They took off with a virgin queen ... I was able to capture them as they landed close. The second one was also from a poly nuc which was completely overwhelmed by ants getting at the syrup.... The third was last December when I was at an out apiary and I noticed a lot of bees in the air. Then I noticed them pouring out of the weakest hive there. I got them too as they settled about 40m away in the lower branch of a gum tree. That colony had a mated queen, but low numbers, was out of food and left very little brood behind. Each one was small as you can see from the photos.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Because I opened the crown board when I couldn't see any activity and the hive was empty, not a single bee, not even a dead one on the floor.

classic dwindle, it happens like that, you think there's bees in there but it's the last handful after the rest have died off (and have been cleared away by the last few) these last stragglers then try and find a new home, but it's not a real colony abscond, just a desperation escape

 

[Erichalfbee]

but it's not a real colony abscond, just a desperation escape

I'm sure that's exactly what I caught one year
View attachment IMG_1461.mov

 

[jeff33]

Difficult to say what's what, perhaps they have gone into another hive. The positive was that I was going to dispatch this queen anyway.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The positive was that I was going to dispatch this queen anyway.

she was probably long gone anyway, my betting is that the colony had to all intents and purposes died out a long time ago and you had been left with the last stragglers giving you the false impression of a viable colony.

 

[Finman]

Because I opened the crown board when I couldn't see any activity and the hive was empty, not a single bee, not even a dead one on the floor.

Sounds just like varroa.

Mysterious Disappearing Colony Disease .
Mites destroy winter brood, and when old summer bees have died, hive is clean and empty.

 

[jeff33]

she was probably long gone anyway, my betting is that the colony had to all intents and purposes died out a long time ago and you had been left with the last stragglers giving you the false impression of a viable colony.

Probably, I haven't opened the hives since mid-september and only pipped through the feeding hole when hefting them. I saw some activity and assumed all was well.
@Finman , all my hives were treated in September and January. After learning the hard way a few years back, mite control is one thing I try to keep on top of.

 

[Finman]

Probably, I haven't opened the hives since mid-september and only pipped through the feeding hole when hefting them. I saw some activity and assumed all was well.
@Finman , all my hives were treated in September and January. After learning the hard way a few years back, mite control is one thing I try to keep on top of.

One hive is dead. OK, Youd know what happened. Somebofy has cleaned your hive.

 

[elainemary]

Probably, I haven't opened the hives since mid-september and only pipped through the feeding hole when hefting them. I saw some activity and assumed all was well.
@Finman , all my hives were treated in September and January. After learning the hard way a few years back, mite control is one thing I try to keep on top of.

Mine that I mentioned from a couple of seasons ago, was full of bees a week or two before looking inside - clear acetate crownboard on Nuc with full seams of bees. Then 2 weeks later only a handful of bees, no brood and failing queen left behind. Can’t imagine such small numbers of bees could have moved out that number of dead bees if dwindled and in that short time frame. Convinced they had absconded, backed up by the difference in colour of bee found in the hive next door. Like yours was treated for varroa late summer and winter so not a varroa issue.

Many scenarios for winter losses, just have to look at the evidence and problem solve, like most beekeeping inspections

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Can’t imagine such small numbers of bees could have moved out that number of dead bees if dwindled and in that short time frame

believe me - they do

 

[elainemary]

believe me - they do

 

[elainemary]

Interesting.

 

[jeff33]

believe me - they do

I guess they must be bored looking for a purpose before dying!!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I guess they must be bored looking for a purpose before dying!!

their instinct is to do their work and keep things tidy, they'll do that until they drop

 

[The Poot]

their instinct is to do their work and keep things tidy, they'll do that until they drop

That’s exactly what my failed colony has done - they’ve been clearing out about 60 odd dead every other day. When I finally got into the hive I found a small number of living bees, with some dead on the combs, with only a small heap on the floor.