I went out to get a nother look at the bees, and noticed that there are about 30 to 40 dead or half dead bees on the ground. Being a softy I put a couple back in, they where on there backs, feet going like crazy , well in a georgia minute they had come out and just jumped off again, Is this normal, I also noticed that my first cycle is up, noticed a couple frames of brood all vacant now, I assume,, that the new are just replacing the old, is that a fair assessment of the situation. I still have the first hives jitters.
Could they have been exposed to a neighbors insect spray? :'(
My bees were doing the same thing this morning although it was only 5. Maybe they got caught in the cold a little bit since were in the same climate it has to be somthing. My first thought was a insect spray got mine to but maybe not if yours are doing the same thing.
Does anyone else have any ideas?
spray is always a possibility but my nearest neighbors are quite a distance away. No not for the bees but still. I figured time was the culprit. Or the weather, but its been colder and not happened. ????
The worker bees in a package are of varying ages and most probably from several different hives, the queen from a seperate one yet.
It is unusual to see bees from packages die in "clumps" as they die when they work themselves to death. They instinctively attempt to leave the hive before they die--makes less hygenic work for those left behind. Bees leaving the hive to die usually walk in a SW direction until they expire and attempts to put them back just means they die closer to the hive which, in turn, draws birds, etc, that feed on dead bees closer to the hive. Let bees crawling away from the hive go, it's best for the hive.
Anyone think this could be the end result of robbing?
Have you noticed any robbing or fighting at the entrance happening recently Mustbeenuts?
Not that I can tell about the robbing but I don't think so. these bees are right in front of the hive not three feet. and they are heading back to the hive. Its not overly bad, I just worry cause there new packages. month old.