What killed my colony???

[BMH]

I moved by bees about 20m today to a different spot in the garden and did a quick check. 4/5 seemed fine and needed feeding.

1 was particularly light and after opening it up I realised something was wrong.

a small amount of drones were clumped on the super (brood and a half) and there where lots of dead bees. probably 95% dead. 5% drones. not a single worker and obviously no queen.

Im guessing failed queen/drone laying queen - think it may have been a cast swarm late in the year but i mixed up my numbering so cannot be 100% sure.

what i am confused about is the maggot/larvae in the dead bees. hoping its just maggots but this is the first time its happened so want to be sure if i need to notify anyone??

Also what is the plan of action regarding the frames, poly brood box and super. can i just clean the boxes, remove wax and dispose and torch the frames??

Any advice is greatly appreciated. i am a noob!

pics below!

 

[AndrewD]

From another newbie, if it was light could starvation be the cause?

Andrew

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

if they were all drones and no workers - looks pretty certain it was a DLQ although it's hard to guess - light as well so looks like it could be starvation in an already doomed colony
Can't view the piccies on this PC - I'll check when I get home.

 

[BMH]

wont let me add pics as ive only 3 posts.

but there is definitely some sort of larvae in there. in combs and on dead bees. just been through the frames. plenty of stores in brood and super spread evenly.

looks like they didnt starve even though they were lighter than other colonies.

Ive got rid of all dead bees and removed worst frames. lots of frames were fine with plenty of stores untouched and in good condition.

not sure if i can just set it up as a bait hive as it is or should i remove all wax and sterlise everything?

 

[madasafish]

Looks like starvation. Heads in cells?

 

[BMH]

I have figured out what hive this is now.

My original colony (black bee) that i purchased last year with a 2 or 3 year old queen swarmed. the hive that died is the swarm from that hive.

lends itself to the DLQ theory i guess as it was a very late swarm and hse would have been a very old queen.

I think the larvae is something that just lives on decaying matter rather than the cause of the demise of the bees.

Any input very much welcome.

 

[BMH]

when i get to 10 post I will post some pics up.

 

[BMH]

hmmm, yes - there were heads in cells. quite a few actually

 

[madasafish]

hmmm, yes - there were heads in cells. quite a few actually

That is starvation.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

I'm a little concerned how far you've moved the colonies. Do you have a contact in your local association / mentor? It's easier to see exactly what the situation is from on the ground but as presented it looks like possible trouble.

 

[BMH]

so could they starve with stores left in cells all around?

its not been that cold here. hasnt even dipped below -2 over winter at all.

 

[BMH]

i have a mentor but he is pretty busy and doesnt always answer my (numerous) calls for help

probably closer to 10m away from their original location but they havent been flying as its set to be around 5c for the next couple of weeks so i assumed they would reorientate after being hive bound for a couple of weeks.

i will monitor any bees returning to the old site and place a nuc or something to collect any stragglers.

 

[BMH]

anyone on here from north wales?

 

[BMH]

pictures to follow

 

[BMH]

[/url]20160212_125206 by laurence edwards, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]20160212_125202 by laurence edwards, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]20160212_143101 by laurence edwards, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]20160212_141846 by laurence edwards, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]20160212_141856 by laurence edwards, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[Cussword]

That's nasty. Unless they are just maggots I have no idea. I think it's too early for wax moth.
There will be someone along soon that will put you straight.
.

Dare I say that it looks. "Moldy".

I'll get my coat.

 

[BMH]

yeah - its really not great is it.

My first fear was hive beetle!! but i think that would be too unlucky from a uk swarm..

Hoping its just maggots but there werent any flies...

a mystery!

 

[BMH]

good one

Yeah its moldy but that was where there was a huge build up of dead bees in the middle of the brood box frames, not sure it was the cause, rather the effect of the mass of dead bees.

Any input welcome. Im still at a loss as of what to do with all the equipment.

 

[BMH]

Really appreciating the input from everyone though.

Its such a useful resource and saves me guessing what i did wrong?

 

[snelgrove]

Looking at the photos one shows raised cappings, so I think you have had a drone layer and there dosnt seem to be much stores, so a combination of both I would say also looks like dampness