dead bees

[rgy]

went out to the hives yesterday and there was a pile of dead bees on the porch and the entrance was almost blocked on the inside with dead bees.  I put a stick inside the hole to try and make sure they could exit.  I could hear a good hum inside the hive but why so many dead bees.  I think they hive was very healthy going into winter.  getting cold here in lower michigan.  freezing at night and 40's during the day.

[AllenF]

What do you think killed them?

[hardwood]

It sounds like robbing but I would consider that remote with your temps. How are they on stores?

Scott

[tecumseh]

at the front side of the winter the oldest bees in the cluster are dying fairly quickly and dropping to the bottom board.  come the first warm day (say +50 degrees) the undertaker bees clear out the dead.  as time rolls on the number of dead bees at the front door should decline somewhat.

[rgy]

tecumseh, I hope you are correct and the dying off stops.  I think they had plenty of stores.  i took off the super about a month ago and it had 6 frames full but the two brood boxes were full of bees and honey.  Seemed to be a very healthy hive with a lot of bees so maybe it's just the old ones kicking off and there was a lot of old ones?

[gardeningfireman]

I freaked out last winter when I saw how many bees were dying in the hive. Normally you don't see them so you don't realize just how many die each week. It will stabilize and the winter bees will be fine.

[Finski]

.
Not normal but

in many cases the hive draw all last brood off before wintering.
I have met too that the last brood  are mite eaten and wingless and they drag quite a heap on  entrance.

Normally bees come out to die.

Ihave had cases too that food is finish and the cluster has partly collapsed on entrance and outside.