Noob question about a dead hive.

Started by ajbell7, June 13, 2008, 07:27:16 PM

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ajbell7

June 13, 2008, 07:27:16 PM
Last year my mother bought a beehive and some bees, and at the end of the year they had a nice hive going. At the beginning of this year, there was apparently some activity (I was on the other coast of the US so I can't really say how much), but now the hive is dead.  I moved back to the area recently and just checked the hive today and the inner most frames are very dark brown, but the end frames on each side are a nice color, and it seems like all the bees have clustered and died at the top of the hive.  So I guess my question is two part: What killed them? And what should she do to keep it from happening again if she gets more?

~A

Moonshae

#1
June 13, 2008, 08:59:40 PM
Hard to tell from that description. Were there any stores? They could have starved. How many boxes were there? Did she inspect the hive at all in the fall and spring to see what was going on?
"The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with beer." - Egyptian Proverb, 2200 BC

qa33010

#2
June 14, 2008, 01:40:43 AM
   Are there bees with their heads in combs like they're trying to eat and died that way?  They can run out of stores with honey in the hive and starve because it never warmed up enough or didn't warm up long enough for them to move the cluster to the food, or if they had brood, the food to the cluster.  The reason I say this is I had starvation this year because they couldn't move the food from the outer frames to the center quickly enough and starved with four frames of honey available.

   Man.  I've been doing this a lot today...Welcome and we're glad to have you here!  If you get a chance go on to Greetings and tell us a little bit about yourself!  Got great folks here!
Everyone said it couldn't be done. But he with a chuckle replied, "I won't be one to say it is so, until I give it a try."  So he buckled right in with a trace of a grin.  If he had a worry he hid it and he started to sing as he tackled that thing that couldn't be done, and he did it.  (unknown)

sc-bee

#3
June 14, 2008, 09:41:12 AM
It's hard to say unless you know more specifics, but a guess --- could have been starvation. As stated bees will sometimes starve w/ stores right next to them. Especially in colder climates will not sometimes break cluster. Don't see a location on your post or profile!!!

The inner dark combs or probably the old brood raising frames w/ cocoons in foundation etc. They are dark brown and empty right???

But as a said just a guess and not necessarily an educated one :-D!
John 3:16
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