Looks like my bees are dying

FlexMedia.tv · October 04, 2016, 04:58:39 PM

I have two hives I started in the Spring. I have been feeding them throughout the year. One hive, the queen died but I found several queen cells and now it's back on track. I even pulled a frame of honey just to test since they are making enough for the winter. The other only has honey in the 3 bottom boxes along with the brood. (medium boxes 8 frame) They haven't touched the sugar water in weeks. I had a super between the brood and the top feeder and they never went into the super so I took it off and they still are not eating anything BUT up until last week they were flying all over the place. Today about 100 are dead just outside the entrance. I've read where if the queen dies and doesn't get replaced, the bees may naturally perish in 5-6 weeks. I also read where they will get rid of all the drones before winter.

Today I watched and there were just a few flying in and out and I'm too new to describe it but they look lazy and were landing like they were drunk, for no better terms. I did see some haul off some dead yellow jackets. So what does that mean, I wonder?

Michael Bush · October 04, 2016, 07:59:05 PM

What was the temperature?

FlexMedia.tv · October 04, 2016, 10:29:34 PM

62-65

GSF · October 05, 2016, 08:47:18 AM

Is there a lot of dead or crawling bees on the ground in front of the hive?

FlexMedia.tv · October 05, 2016, 10:29:14 PM

Dead and just in front of the hive. I took off the super because they weren't using it anyway. There were a few guarding the rear entry I just opened to get ready for the winter. Just odd. The other hive next to it is flying all over. Even gave me a few warning shots upside my head when I changed the feeder.

FlexMedia.tv · October 09, 2016, 11:04:49 PM

It looks like a lot of the dead bees are drones with the big eyes. I don't see any mites but it could be a deformed wing disease thing by the way they fly.

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FlexMedia.tv · October 09, 2016, 11:12:03 PM

When they do land they will just sit for hours...

Time to pull out the books and look up some things...

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cao · October 10, 2016, 12:27:32 AM

This time of year they stop feeding the drones and are kicking them out. When there are a large number of drones in a hive the bees have a hard time geting rid of the evidence. The undertaker bees usually drag the dying drones away from the hive. If the vast majority of the bees that you see in front of the hive is drones, I wouldn't worry about them. They are doing what they are need to.

FlexMedia.tv · October 10, 2016, 12:35:19 PM

( hope my wife doesn't treat me that way!)
I suspected that hive had a laying worker for the reason of all the drones but I was hoping I was wrong. A lot of them looked like drones with the big eyes. Now I need to figure out why they are not eating when the other hive right next to it is eating everything.

AR Beekeeper · October 10, 2016, 12:50:41 PM

My experience has been when there is no nectar flow in progress, and a colony does not take syrup, they either have no storage space or they are sick.

GSF · October 10, 2016, 09:59:42 PM

Hey flex, when was the last time you were in the hive?

FlexMedia.tv · October 10, 2016, 11:32:10 PM

GSF,
Two weeks ago I checked the first brood box. I pulled the frames and saw a little honey mixed in with Bees and some brood. That's when I pulled the super since they never went up on it even to feed. Three days after that I saw all the bees on the ground. I thought I killed them with that natural spray that they don't like that makes them go further down in the hive. I didn't think I used that much.

Art

bwallace23350 · October 11, 2016, 09:03:16 AM

I have not checked around my hives for dead bees but how to tell the difference between a worker and a drone?

FlexMedia.tv · October 11, 2016, 11:51:22 AM

Bwallace,
I learned with my Italian bees at least, the drones have bigger eyes, more on the top of their heads and they are a little thicker in the bottom.

GSF · October 12, 2016, 08:46:49 AM

Drones are the linebackers in the colony, workers are not as wide.

bwallace23350 · October 12, 2016, 09:05:24 AM

Thanks. Next time I open it up I will be on the lookout for them.

GSF · October 12, 2016, 03:54:28 PM

In my apiary you'd be hard press to find a drone this time of year.

FlexMedia.tv · October 12, 2016, 05:04:28 PM

I'm leaning towards they are getting rid of the old to make room for the new. I only have 2 hives. I hope both of them make it through their first winter. 3 of my friends who only have 2 hives have already lost one to wax moths. Those hives look absolutely nasty!

GSF · October 13, 2016, 02:20:39 PM

Wax moths are usually a secondary issue. "Something" else cause the hive to get too weak to defend against the wax moths.

FlexMedia.tv · October 13, 2016, 11:43:12 PM

Yes it is. Nasty looking!

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