Good sign?

[Nock]

Checked a trap this morning on way to work. There were several scouts in the box. Bad part was they were all dead. Not sure if yesterday or this morning got them. Both days been below freezing. So is it a good sign they were hanging out?  Why would they not go back to there hive?  Is it normal for them to do this until the rest move in?  Thanks

[van from Arkansas]

Nock, I see bees at the end of life that leave the hive to die in solidarity.  I believe these bees realize they at at the end of the road.  Specifically, I see the bees grasp onto my screen of my front porch.  They just latch on the screen, don?t move and die in place.  Better than dying in the hive inwhich a caretaker would have to carry off the dead bee.  The ultimate last sacrifice to the hive.  Gotta adore those honeybees.   Could go on and on of my admirations.

Hope you catch a swarm, Nock!!!

Van

[BeeMaster2]

Nock,
If the bees found the trap close to sundown, they would likely stay for the night. If it was still cold when you looked in the box, there is a good chance they are not dead. Unless their body temperature dropped below freezing they are still alive. I have picked up bees in cold weather that I thought were dead, held them in my hand and have them wake up.
Hope you catch a swarm.
Jim Altmiller

[Nock]

Nock,
If the bees found the trap close to sundown, they would likely stay for the night. If it was still cold when you looked in the box, there is a good chance they are not dead. Unless their body temperature dropped below freezing they are still alive. I have picked up bees in cold weather that I thought were dead, held them in my hand and have them wake up.
Hope you catch a swarm.
Jim Altmiller

I?ve been thinking about that today.

[Bob Wilson]

Is it possible they were visitors from your other nearby hives? I had what I thought were 10-12 scouts hanging around one swarm box for two weeks, but when I checked the box, no colony and no comb inside. Instead, the stragglers built a little burr comb between a few frames. What's up with that?

[BeeMaster2]

Is it possible they were visitors from your other nearby hives? I had what I thought were 10-12 scouts hanging around one swarm box for two weeks, but when I checked the box, no colony and no comb inside. Instead, the stragglers built a little burr comb between a few frames. What's up with that?

You probably had a swarm on or near that box and they were left behind. So they just started working in your box.
Jim Altmiller

[Bob Wilson]

interesting, Jim. I just rebaited it, and there is renewed interest again. 12-15 bees all around it. Did you catch a swarm in that box on the fence post behind your hives since beefest?

[Nock]

Is it possible they were visitors from your other nearby hives? I had what I thought were 10-12 scouts hanging around one swarm box for two weeks, but when I checked the box, no colony and no comb inside. Instead, the stragglers built a little burr comb between a few frames. What's up with that?

This trap is about 4 miles from my hives.

[BeeMaster2]

interesting, Jim. I just rebaited it, and there is renewed interest again. 12-15 bees all around it. Did you catch a swarm in that box on the fence post behind your hives since beefest?

No. Nothing yet.
Jim Altmiller