Small Hive Beetles

[Barry]

Lost a colony that going into October, was seemingly strong healthy plenty of stores. I don't use IPM, and don't use any chemicals at all. To check small hive beetles I use beetle blasters. The beetle count was to me staggering, around 50. Varroa levels the bees seemed to handle, so I am not certain what caused colony decline. By the end of December the other colony was busy robbing out the now dead one. Opened it up 7 frames of smelly goldenrod honey, small cluster of dead bees. Very few beetle larvae, and  very few wax moth worms.
I live in Gainesville, Florida.

[capt44]

Sounds like the comb was attacked by Small Hive Beetle Larva. That's probably what weakened the hive to the point they couldn't take care of the Wax Moth.
The Beetle Larva probably already left the hive to burrow into the ground around the hive leaving a few inside the hive.
The Beetle Larva once in the ground will finish it's cycle and emerge as a full grown Small Hive Beetle.
Those Small Hive Beetle larva is fast.