They're not dead!

Nyleve · April 17, 2016, 02:56:49 PM

So I posted here a month or so ago that I lost my hive. on my first (and second and third) look into the hive after winter, there was NO sign of life whatsoever. No buzzing, no movement - nothing. I did see maybe half a dozen bees around the hive but they may have been strays. So I ordered a nuc and today went down to the hive to clean it out so its ready for the new inhabitants.

Well. Imagine my surprise when I saw a LOT of activity around and in the hive. A lot. So I opened it up and pulled out the frames to see what was going on. There is a lot of honey left in the upper box, none in the lower. Lots of bees dead with their heads in the cells, and clumps of dead bees in a few corners of some frames. I cleaned out what I could, swapped bottom and top boxes and put some syrup in for them.

So I wonder if these are wild bees that have set up housekeeping in an empty hive. I didn't see a queen, but I didn't really look deep into the bottom box. If it's a wild colony, will they make themselves a queen? Any suggestions about this? I'm happy but confused now.

tjc1 · April 17, 2016, 03:16:33 PM

I saw the same thing this fall, thinking that my big hive was still alive (after I thought it was dead) - turned out it was local area bees checking the place out and probably robbing honey (thought there was still plenty left that I saved). So you'll have to check closely to see if there is a queen or eggs.

Nyleve · April 17, 2016, 03:22:40 PM

Yeah it occurred to me after I just posted that they can't make a queen without a queen. And I didn't see anything that looked like brood, but it's till early. If they're local bees, there are a lot of them and they're acting pretty organized.

Nyleve · April 17, 2016, 09:05:45 PM

One more question. How can I tell if the bees are robbers or if they're my own bees? As I said, I thought the hive was dead but today it's all kinds of busy. And if they are robbers, what should I do about it, if anything?

cao · April 17, 2016, 11:16:05 PM

If they are robbers they have a tendency to mangle the comb. They don't care how they get the honey. If they are then you need to close up the hive and/or move it until all of the robbers realize there is nothing left to rob. Also if they are robbers then there won't be a queen or eggs or larva. You don't want the robbers there when you get your nuc. They will likely kill them or at least hurt them trying to get the food.

Hops Brewster · April 18, 2016, 01:25:12 PM

as above. Also, if this is a living colony, your bees will be bringing in pollen. Watch carefully, sometimes it's tough to spot the pollen.
Another thing, robbers tend to fly straight away, as if "making a get-away", whereas home bees will often (but not always) hang out up front for a moment or 2 before leaving to forage.

GSF · April 19, 2016, 08:45:01 AM

Take a peek in at night. Shouldn't be hardly any bees in there - at least that's my thinking.

Acebird · April 19, 2016, 09:51:04 AM

If they don't have brood by now it is likely robbers or a hive missing a queen.

Nyleve · April 19, 2016, 10:45:42 AM

It has just gotten warm here in Ontario so I'm not sure there would be any brood yet. But I will watch for pollen - if they're not bringing any in then I assume they're robbing. I will also try to have a look at night to see if anyone's home. Thanks all for your advice.

Acebird · April 19, 2016, 02:31:48 PM

Most hive will have brood a month before it gets warm in preparation for spring flows.

Nyleve · April 19, 2016, 05:26:53 PM

Ugh. I just stood and watched and I didn't see a single bee bringing in pollen. I have to assume all the activity is robbing. Will have a peek in the hive tonight after dark to see if anyone's home. But I have a really bad feeling about this.

GSF · April 20, 2016, 08:24:09 AM

Do the bees have a source for pollen this time of year up there?

Nyleve · April 20, 2016, 09:35:03 AM

Well the pollen is just starting. Crocuses and Scylla are up and trees are starting to come into bloom. I have always been surprised to see pollen coming in when I didn't think there was anything available yet. I will watch them over the weekend and then deal with the hive next week if I'm still convinced I have robbers. Bah.

Nyleve · April 23, 2016, 03:39:34 PM

Bah. They must have been robbers. Beautiful day, lots of pollen sources - nothing coming in and hive is sort of quiet now that they've probably taken all the free stuff and left. I will dismantle the whole thing and start over again with a new nuc. Sad. But it guess I've been lucky - I had this colony for 5 years.