combining hive - all bees died.....

[SteveSC]

I used the newspaper with slits in it between the weak and the stronger hive.  Weak hive was on top.  The next day all the bees in the weak hive had died and were laying on the newspaper spread out - not piled in a group.  They had not tried to chew through the newspaper - outside temp was about 82 degs and there was a ventilated inner cover installed.  Can they starve to death in a day....?  Any ideas what could cause this.
Thanks......SteveSC

[Joe]

Thats quite shocking too me. Any dead bees in the bottom deep?

[SteveSC]

Not a single bee dead in the bottom deep - just in the top weak hive.  I just took the bees out with the newspaper and left the second deep in place.  The strong hive has all summer to fill it.  I don't have any intentions of getting honey this yr..  All they do this yr. is for them - I'll get some next season.   That is strange that all of them just died over a 20 hr. period...I wish I knew why so I could avoid next time.  

Steve SC

[Joe]

Was the hive placed in direct sunlight and was it a particularly hot day the day they were combined? Maybe they overheated and were unable to ventilate.  Was the newspaper clean?

[SteveSC]

It was 82 degs. the day before yesterday - a mild day.  The hive sits under a poplar tree ( filtered sun ).  It was just read newspaper - clean.  Beats me - all I know is that the bees in the weak died overnight.  Maybe someone else can help me figure this out...  Thanks.

[Brian D. Bray]

This is one of those my TV doesn't work to find out it wasn't plugged in type of questions.

It die off sounds like suffocation.  Did you poke small holes in the newspaper when you placed it between the hives?  Both for air circulation and blending of phenomones and to give the bees someplace to start in removing the paper.

[fcderosa]

When I combine my hives I place a newspaper between the chambers with no slits.  I do place a standard house brick between the telescoping cover and inner cover so the bees in the upper brood can enter and exit and are ventilated.  Perhaps it takes longer for them to get through the paper but all mine survived the combining and became strong hives. :lol:

[SteveSC]

I did have slits all in the partition newspaper - some more than slits.  I also had a ventilated inner cover in place.  I'm at a lose as to what happened to the bees.  Any more ideas welcome and appreciated.

Steve SC

[abejaruco]

Reading to Gilles Fert, "Queen Rearing", in the chapter about package bees he writes that suffocation is caused by:
1.- When bees have the craw plenty of watery nectar and
2.- If the "box" can hold up to 10 kg. bees, you can´t exceed the 50%.

Well, 1/2 hour translating a sentence... :shock:

[Michael Bush]

In hot weather, I always try to make sure both the top and the bottom half of a combine are free flying (have an entrance).