Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[MedusA]

With the nicer weather, I have noticed quite a few bees flying out and coming back with pollen, which has felt like a sign of approaching Spring after such a long cold Winter.

 

However, last night I noticed quite a pile of dead bees on the ground outside the hive. Some of them even had full pollen baskets, so presumably had been out foraging. The question is, did they get chilled coming back to the hive too late when the temperature dropped, or would they be winter bees at the natural end of their life, or more worryingly, does this indicate a problem I should be doing something about?

 

Maybe one of the experienced beekeepers could suggest a likely cause? I've checked that they still have plenty of fondant, so I don't think it's starvation.

 

I'm probably just being neurotic.

[Macfoy]

Both assumptions.......chilled or old bees could well be right. Probably more likely chilled though as it is still pretty cold

 

If there's anything going wrong inside the hive, at this moment there's not a lot you can do about it apart from what you have done in as much as making sure they have some fondant. Alas any potential disease can't be sorted till warmed weather.

 

I have a friend who collects the fallen bees and takes them into his house to warm up, quite a few revive, in a jam jar on a radiator, he then lovingly puts them back at the hive entrance, it appears to be a joke, but it is true, you could try it out and then you will know if they are just chilled, I would advise some kind of cover over the jar though to prevent visits to the lightbulbs by the revived bees

 

Macfoy

[Guest]

All your bees are likely 'old' by now.

 

Is the hive in shade as the day cools? How many is a pile and how many have pollen?

 

Yes, something else to worry about at this time of the year, but not something that can be easily corrected. Just the one colony?

 

Fondant would only give energy; the colony perhaps is in need of more protein for the brood, but it might be more likely that the larvae would suffer (obviously the colony as well), so I would think the bees have got chilled and not made it back safely to the landing board. All you can do is monitor and worry even more if it escalates.

 

Could some of these dead bees be ones cleared from the colony? ie ones which have been dead sometime?

 

Clear the area of dead bees and monitor, over the coming days, to get a more quantitative estimate of what is occuring, but I think there is little you will be able to do about it. You may be worrying less if you can see how many it really is and if they are fresh or long-time dead.

 

Regards, RAB

[MedusA]

Thank you both for your assistance.

 

I would calculate that there were about 80 to 100 bees in total. I think most were definately cleared out ones, but some look like younger bees who have been out foraging and not made it back in time. I would say about a quarter of the dead bees had pollen on them. I have cleared them away to get a better picture. I forgot to mention that a few were actually under the hive, as if they've tried to get in through the mesh floor, rather than the entrance.

 

I have a long, thin, south-facing garden so the hive is positioned to face south east, which means it is in shade from half way through the afternoon. In the warmer weather that didn't seem to be a problem, but I suppose it would be at this time of year.

 

I will monitor more carefully from now on.

 

Thanks again.

[beesontoast]

I made a video showing a quick and easy way to give bees some fondant in cold weather - see http://biobees.libsyn.com/

 

The video is mainly applicable to top bar hives, but it works with conventional hives as well - but try not to let all the heat out!

[MedusA]

Fascinating video, beesontoast. Thank you for sharing it.

 

I am pleased to report that over the last couple of days, since I cleared up, there have been no more dead bees. I'm monitoring their fondant situation and will make more if needed.

[beesontoast]

Hopefully the temperatures will stray into double figures soon, and the bees can get out to do their stuff without fear of freezing en route!