Bee predators.

[Bob Delp]

What would leave ~10 bee abdomens in a small pile to the side of a hive? Only the abdomens are left.
Bob

[Bill W.]

My first guess would be wasps.  I've seen them snip right through a bee.

Could also be birds (though they generally eat the whole bee) or a dragonfly.

Could even be a mouse eating the heads of the dead bees.

[bassman1977]

My first guess would be wasps.

That was my first thought too.

[doak]

skunk/polecat.doak
No I'm neither

[doak]

Check the front of the hive body down low and the landing board for scratch marks.
tell-tell signs of the above.doak

[Scadsobees]

Small pile, to the side of the hive? Add another vote for the skunk.

Skunk poop.  The bees don't digest completely (sorta like corn). :roll: They will eat the dead bees in front of the hive, sometimes scratching and eating live bees.  If you notice that the bees are hotter than normal or disturbed, then you need to start thinking of skunk removal procedures.

Rick

[Michael Bush]

Are they wet and soggy in a neat pile?  Or they scattered about?  Shrews will eat them and scatter them.  Yellow jackets and other hornets will also.  Skunks suck the juice out of them and spit them in wet piles.

[doak]

dito on the skunk.
doak

[wtiger]

I've seen praying mantises do something similar, but only in very small numbers.  Maybe 2 or 3, but it's too early to have one that's large enough to tackle bees yet.  Unless I'm loosing enough bees to a predator to hurt colony strength in some significant way I usually just leave them be.  They're as fascinating to watch as the bees.