Dead bees on ground after hard freeze

[snispel]

I had to move 2 hives and then the weather turned unseasonably cold. I moved them on a night when low was 60s and the 2 weeks since it's been in the 30s and 40s and down as low as scant 20s. This was the first real cold spell this fall. There were some out today...it was the first day above 50. I checked around the hives and there are maybe a couple hundred dead bees by each. Is this normal? I am in SE Nebraska.

[TheHoneyPump]

Certainly normal for where I am, much further north.  The hives tend to shed bees through October and do a good dump of carcasses after the first 3 to 5 days of really sub zero temperatures. After that it is a trickle of bees per day.  Some hives shed more than others. It is like they are kicking out the extras, the sick, and the old; keeping only their very best siblings for the coming winter huddle.

[Bob Wilson]

Good to know, HP. Helps me understand what to expect in the next few months. I thought they had already kicked out all the extras by now, and was surprised I still  seem to have large populations in the hives right now.

[Acebird]

Probably not as critical in your area Bob.

[van from Arkansas]

I have dead bees on the ground, normal this time of year in N. Arkansas.  However, one out of 15 hives had two handfuls of dead bees on the Freeman screened bottom board.  A double deep 10 frame and heavy with honey.  The entrance was almost blocked with dead bees.  This hive was very loud, like the roar of a queenless hive.  Bees in the top box of this hive were very busy doing something in the top deep, just roaring?  To cold to open this hive, 30F expected next 12 hrs.  Hopefully, I can inspect this week and determine the problem.  I kinda hate to open a hive this time of year as I will surely break the winter propolis seals.  Any ideas, anyone?  I am thinking varroa mites.

If queenless, I can newspaper combine, but options are limited as we are already into November.  This one problem hive, all my hives, has been treated 3 times with Oxalic acid vapor, OAV, but not treated in a timely manner: once in July, again in August, again early September.  One more treatment in the coming December or January with OAV.

Health to your bees!!!

[AR Beekeeper]

Van;  I had two colonies go queenless in October.  I elected to shake them out into a soapy water bath because of their dwindled population and high mite count.  Often joining colonies causes major problems with the healthy/queenright colony, especially if high varroa mite populations exist.

Glad to see you posting again, was afraid you had caught the "bug."  A beekeeping friend of mine that lived in the Clinton area died with Covid 19 the first week of October.

[The15thMember]

Glad to see you posting again, was afraid you had caught the "bug." 

I was getting a little worried myself.  Good to see you again, Mr. Van.     Although I'm still worried about Alan (CoolBees).  He hasn't logged on since July. . . . 

[Ben Framed]

I agree with y?all I have missed Mr Vans posting (Here) also. Member I had Alan heavy on my mind and sent a PM to him a week or so ago. So far no response. I am concerned.

[Ben Framed]

Member, I kind of see you, Alan and myself as class mates as we three started posting here about the same time. Mr Van as one of our professors. 😊