I came home 2 days ago to find that there were about 50 or more bees on the ground around my hive, walking away from it. When I picked them up and put them on the platform, they would walk back to the edge and dive off back to the ground. They appeared to not be able to fly and would just buzz around the grass. I collected some to look under a microscope for tracheal mites, but they appeared negative.
Yesterday, I noticed either the same bees or more bees out on the ground around the hive. I went ahead and did a full hive inspection. My hive is two deep boxes and I found only 1 frame with eggs in it in the top box. There are still frames that do not have any comb on them in the top box and there is absolutely no brood in the bottom box frames. The frames of the bottom box are full of nectar and pollen.
I did a partial inspection on Saturday and was able to see the queen and I am uncertain if the eggs I saw on Saturday are the eggs that I saw yesterday. Could my have have swarmed on me with no warning? No queen cells were built prior to this incident and there are none right now. Any advice would be great!
I am also feeding as well so they have food coming in right now.
Were the bees you found drones? My hives are in the process of giving the guys their walking papers. Some of the drones are still walking around when I find them but they arena longer getting fed or kept warm so they have little energy.
No they are all perfectly healthy worker bees. I don't see any signs of nosema and their wings are perfect. They are just walking off the platform and are congregating on the ground. No wax moths or crazy hive beetle populations within the hive either.
Are they dying there? If so maybe pesticides?