HELP!!!!

Shanevrr · June 26, 2011, 02:23:24 PM

i got home today from being gone since friday evening and theres dead bees everywhere. about 500 its seems. First time its happened. WHat should i be looking for? The bees are like half the size when they are alive. Dont understand.

G3farms · June 26, 2011, 03:30:07 PM

Are these bees fully developed, not just in the late stages of pupa?

Pick up several of them and look at their wings, are they fully developed, not looking like they are wilted up?

Look at the landing board, are there bees fighting or staggering around?

Just need a little more info.

AllenF · June 26, 2011, 03:33:50 PM

Results of robbing. Are you feeding? Got a weak hive in there? Reduce the entrances.

David McLeod · June 26, 2011, 03:39:27 PM

X2 robbing

Shanevrr · June 26, 2011, 03:48:38 PM

no im not feeding, and yes they look fully developed. I do have one weak hive but its been like this from beginning. they almost look sprayed.

AllenF · June 26, 2011, 03:51:10 PM

Most of the dead bees are under just one hive. If it was spraying, the dead would be under all the hives. Something set off robbing at that hive.

Shanevrr · June 26, 2011, 03:57:12 PM

its in front of two hives, what would set of robbing? i didnt think they would kill each other?

AllenF · June 26, 2011, 03:59:30 PM

They are defending their hive, to the death. Anything from a dearth, open honey, weak hives, feeding, leaving a hive open too long, the list goes on, can set off robbing.

G3farms · June 26, 2011, 04:04:30 PM

Quote from: AllenF on June 26, 2011, 03:51:10 PM
Most of the dead bees are under just one hive. If it was spraying, the dead would be under all the hives. Something set off robbing at that hive.

Not really, not all hives forage at the same place. If you will watch them on a busy day they will fly in different directions. Not saying all of hive A will fly straight ahead, hive B will all turn left, hive C will all go right, etc, etc.

That is why I was asking different questions...................

Under developed bees could have been a hygienic type behavior due to deformed wing virus.

Fighting would be a good indicator of robbing.

Staggering or drunken looking bees could be poison.

Shanevrr · June 26, 2011, 04:05:33 PM

weird i have an entrance reducer on weak hive ttoo. havent seen any fighting