flying in the snow?

[phill]

Just curious what's going on here:

We've had a long stretch of very cold weather, capped by a blizzard yesterday. Today I found a handful of dead bees scattered in the snow around both of my hives. I'm not concerned about the number of dead bees; it's about what I expected. I'm curious how they got 15- 20' from the hive. Since the snow fell, it's been bitter cold with high winds. So what happened?

- Did they take a cleansing flight and get overcome by the cold?

- Did they die (of natural causes) inside the hive, and the undertakers brought them out-- thereby risking their own death in the cold?

- Were they pushed out of the top entrance, and the wind carried them to where they now lie?

[AllenF]

Yes.  To all three is possible, but most likely they were carried out already dead.    Bees can fly in the cold, but just not very far as they are losing body heat very quickly and must get back in asap.

[Michael Bush]

Or do they know they are dying and save the undertakers risking their lives by flying out on their own...?

[phill]

>>Or do they know they are dying and save the undertakers risking their lives by flying out on their own...?

Yes; I was wondering about that, too!

Too bad we can't arrange "exit interviews."

[Tommyt]

Maybe a new strain of JAP Bees
Kamikaze :-D


Tommyt

[rooster99]

Just joined today looking for info on this exact topic and boom there it was. walked by the hives yesterday and noticed all the dead bees. new beekeeper panic set in, but lots still in the hives. -30 C last week so I expected a few casualties.